(Caterpillar: Irving, TX) -- Caterpillar unveiled a set of AI-powered and autonomous innovations that mark a major step forward for heavy industry, transforming machines into intelligent, connected systems that help customers build and power critical infrastructure worldwide.

Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed delivers a keynote address at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed took the stage with chief digital officer Ogi Redzic and chief technology officer Jaime Mineart for a future-facing keynote address to showcase how AI, autonomy, and edge computing are converging to create the next generation of heavy equipment—and committed $25 million to the future workforce that will help build it.

Building the invisible layer of the tech stack

As AI accelerates transformation across industries, it depends on the physical world—an invisible layer of the tech stack that provides the foundation for modern technology. Caterpillar builds, powers, and now makes more intelligent the machines that enable that progress, from the equipment that mines for critical minerals used in semiconductors and batteries to machines used to construct roads, bridges, data centers, and energy systems. At CES 2026, the company demonstrated how it’s advancing industrial AI, moving it from vision to reality.

Cat AI Assistant turns data into decisions at the job site: Caterpillar introduced Cat AI Assistant, a powerful AI solution that unifies Caterpillar’s diverse portfolio of digital applications and high-quality data in one simple, conversational experience. Using Caterpillar’s own trusted data stored on the Helios unified data platform, Cat AI Assistant provides customers with reliable, context-rich information to make daily work easier. The goal is to help customers stay one step ahead from the office to the job site, and soon even in the cab of the machine. (Click here to learn about Cat AI Assistant.)

Expanded collaboration with NVIDIA, where AI meets the physical world: 
Caterpillar and NVIDIA announced an expanded collaboration aimed at accelerating an AI-enabled future, including onboard AI features, AI agents at the scale of products and industries, as well as safer, leaner, more-resilient production systems. The collaboration leverages NVIDIA AI infrastructure and Caterpillar’s century of building and maintaining the physical world to set a new standard for industrial innovation. (Read more about the collaboration here and in the NVIDIA blog post.)

Caterpillar’s leadership in autonomy

Caterpillar highlighted how decades of leadership in autonomous mining equipment and support from AI will now revolutionize the construction industry. After more than 30 years of deploying autonomous machines in some of the world’s most demanding mining environments, Caterpillar is expanding that expertise to the yellow iron seen on everyday construction sites. The company previewed five autonomous machines designed to operate safely and reliably in complex construction environments. (Read more in the company’s autonomy release.)

Building the future starts with people

While technology is transforming operations, Creed reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the most important part of the invisible layer of the tech stack: people. To ensure that employees and customers are equipped to use advanced technologies as new roles emerge, Caterpillar is pledging $25 million over five years to launch a global innovation prize. The initiative will identify, test, and scale solutions that help workers with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and autonomous environment. (Read more about Caterpillar’s $25 million pledge to workforce education here.)

With $30 billion invested in research and development over the past 20 years, and plans to increase investment in digital and technology by 2.5 times through 2030, the company is delivering advanced technology solutions to help solve its customers’ toughest challenges.

For more information or to watch a replay of the keynote speech, visit caterpillar.com/ces.