EY India unveils Scout, an AI-powered companion robot designed to assist workers in hazardous industrial environments at the AI Impact Summit 2026.
At a time when artificial intelligence is often discussed in abstract terms — algorithms, models, automation — EY India chose to present something tangible.
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, the firm unveiled “Scout,” an AI-powered companion robot designed to assist human workers in hazardous industrial environments. Demonstrated at the EY booth in Hall 1, the robot showcased how robotics, digital twins and physical AI can converge to improve safety and operational efficiency.
Scout is positioned not as a replacement for workers, but as a partner. In sectors such as oil refineries, where pipeline systems generate a high volume of alerts that limited staff struggle to monitor, the robot can be dispatched when an anomaly occurs. It captures photos, video and sensor data, which are then analyzed using AI models and large language models to generate insights and recommended actions.
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By combining physical mobility with edge intelligence, Scout enables organizations to investigate potential gas leaks, confined spaces or equipment failures without immediately exposing workers to risk. EY said it builds customized applications and intelligence layers on top of the robotic platform to meet client-specific industrial requirements.
Delegates at the summit observed how Scout integrates with digital twins — virtual replicas of physical assets — to support predictive inspection workflows across complex industrial ecosystems. The system is designed to learn continuously, refining its accuracy and recommendations over time.
The India AI Impact Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, has drawn government officials, industry executives and researchers from around the world. Scout’s debut underscored India’s ambition to expand AI adoption beyond software into physical environments where safety and precision are paramount.
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As artificial intelligence moves from dashboards to factory floors, the emphasis is shifting from automation alone to augmentation — systems that extend human capability while reducing exposure to danger. In that vision, robots like Scout are not substitutes for skilled labor, but safeguards against its most hazardous demands.
