Caterpillar introduces ‘Cat AI Assistant’

Caterpillar, an Irving, Texas-based equipment manufacturer, has introduced the “Cat AI Assistant,” an artificial intelligence- (AI-) based solution that allows Caterpillar customers to engage with the company’s equipment and portfolio of digital applications. 

Caterpillar says its AI assistant makes it easier for customers to buy, maintain, manage and operate the equipment from anywhere. The company says this launch marks a step forward for industrial AI by combining data, AI and heavy equipment to improve productivity, efficiency and safety. 

The Cat AI Assistant unifies Caterpillar’s portfolio of digital applications into one conversational experience, the company says. It operates against the entire Caterpillar knowledge base and provides customers with personalized data and insights to support fast, smart decisions. 

“Caterpillar’s strong digital foundation, including our Helios data platform that manages over 16 petabytes of data, is helping us move fast and deploy new AI capabilities to help our customers succeed,” says Ogi Redzic, Caterpillar chief digital officer. “Cat AI Assistant is a major leap forward in how Caterpillar supports customer success through best-in-class digital solutions, whether they’re working from corporate headquarters or at a remote jobsite.” 

Fleet managers and owners 

For business owners, Caterpillar says its AI assistant acts as an extra set of eyes on equipment by evolving alongside operations, refining insights and providing recommendations to help turn unplanned incidents into planned maintenance. 

Technicians

For a technician, the Cat AI Assistant acts as a partner that can access the right section from a library of thousands of instruction manuals, Caterpillar says. It provides step-by-step guidance on repairs, highlights common issues and suggests additional parts needed to complete the job. 

Machine operators 

For an operator, the company says the Cat AI Assistant can connect every step of the workday from machine startup to shift handoff. The assistant can provide operators with information to work smarter and safer without switching screens, returning to the yard or losing focus. The AI assistant uses the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform to run speech recognition and advanced AI models that can assist with directing the machine, Caterpillar says. 

The company says the goal of the Cat AI Assistant is to keep its customers one step ahead. The technology can help a less experienced operator improve productivity or help a Caterpillar dealer provide better insights to customers. 

Caterpillar says it plans to bring the off-board Cat AI Assistant live in the first quarter of this year and is in the final stages of validation for in-cab applications. Caterpillar will demonstrate these capabilities at CES 2026, Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas.