AI in CNC Machining: Insights from Our Founder & CEO at SME’s CES 2026 Advanced Manufacturing Showcase

3 days ago
1 min read

At SME’s Advanced Manufacturing Showcase during CES 2026, Tanmay Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, shared insights from early AI deployments across CAD and CNC workflows. The session highlighted where AI is already delivering measurable value, where expectations remain misaligned, and why incremental, workflow-embedded adoption is proving more effective than large-scale automation efforts.

Key Takeaways from the Session

1. The real bottleneck isn’t machines. It’s decisions

Modern CNC machines and CAM tools are incredibly capable. What still slows things down are human-dependent decisions (tooling choices, parameters, iterations) especially as experienced talent becomes harder to find.

2. The Gap Between Design and Manufacturing

A disconnect exists between CAD design and real-world machining. Key decisions on tooling, parameters, and machining strategy slow execution and increase repeated iterations.

3. Speed, Customization, and Market Expectations

Markets demand faster product launches and greater personalization. Shortening the entire product lifecycle has become critical to staying competitive.

4. What AI Means in Manufacturing Industry & Practical Outcomes

AI is not about full automation or one-click programming. It supports human decision-making through data-driven learning, multi-objective optimization, and feedback loops that continuously capture and improve manufacturing knowledge.

5. Two Pragmatic Pathways for AI Adoption at Shop Floors

Companies are adopting AI through two clear pathways. One focuses on CAM, easing CNC programming bottlenecks in complex, low-volume environments. The other targets shop-floor execution, improving cycle time, machine behavior, and data-driven decisions in high-volume production settings.