As enterprises look beyond generative AI and explore how artificial intelligence can optimize real-world operations, a new category is emerging: Physical AI. Honeywell Technologies is positioning itself at the center of that shift with the launch of Forge Cognition, an agentic AI and simulation platform developed in collaboration with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies. The platform is designed to bring AI-driven intelligence to buildings, campuses, and industrial environments by combining autonomous AI agents with real-time digital twins.
Unlike traditional operational analytics tools, Forge Cognition seeks to bridge the gap between information technology and operational technology. The platform connects to existing building and industrial systems, creating a structured operational knowledge base that allows AI agents to understand equipment behavior, correlate events, and recommend or execute actions across connected environments.
“The physical world demands more than a powerful AI model. It requires AI to understand how systems actually operate and interact. That is where the next breakthrough is happening.”
— Suresh Venkatarayalu, Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell Technologies
The announcement highlights a growing trend in enterprise AI. While many organizations have focused on AI for productivity and content generation, operational leaders are increasingly seeking measurable return on investment from physical assets and infrastructure. Honeywell believes agentic AI can help address this challenge by improving equipment reliability, reducing unnecessary maintenance activity, and identifying energy optimization opportunities.
The platform leverages NVIDIA Nemotron models for operational reasoning, NVIDIA Omniverse for simulation capabilities, and infrastructure from the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA to support model development and deployment. Together, these technologies create what Honeywell describes as a foundation for intelligent facility operations.
Early results from deployments provide insight into the potential impact. A pilot at NVIDIA’s Voyager campus reported up to a 90% reduction in unnecessary alarms and identified opportunities to reduce energy and utility consumption by as much as 10% while maintaining occupant comfort levels. Similar pilots are underway at the Fairmont Hotel Dubai, NEX Mall Singapore, and Vanderbilt University.
For CIOs and facilities leaders, the significance extends beyond automation. Forge Cognition reflects a broader industry transition toward autonomous operations where AI not only analyzes data but actively understands, simulates, and optimizes physical environments. As enterprises pursue digital transformation, the next competitive advantage may come not from smarter software alone, but from AI that understands the real world.
