Caterpillar Partners Nvidia to Pilot AI Construction

Caterpillar is advancing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation into its construction machinery through a strategic partnership with semiconductor leader Nvidia. The collaboration was highlighted at CES 2026, where the company showcased its AI assistive system, “Cat AI,” piloted in the mid-size Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator.

Built on Nvidia’s Jetson Thor physical AI platform, Cat AI leverages a fleet of AI agents to support machine operators in real time. The system can answer operator queries, provide access to resources, offer safety tips, and even schedule machine services. “Our customers don’t live in front of a laptop day in and day out; they live in the dirt,” said Brandon Hootman, Caterpillar’s vice president of data and AI. “The ability to get the insights and take the action that they need while they’re doing the work is very important to them.”

A key advantage of Cat AI is the vast amount of data it collects and transmits. Caterpillar’s machines reportedly send roughly 2,000 messages per second, which feed into digital twin simulations of construction sites using Nvidia’s Omniverse library. These simulations allow the company to test scheduling scenarios and estimate material requirements more accurately, paving the way for improved efficiency on real-world projects.

Caterpillar, which already operates fully autonomous vehicles in the mining sector, views these pilot programs as a stepping stone to expanding automation across its machinery portfolio. Hootman emphasized that the initiative addresses immediate customer challenges while also creating a foundation for future technology development.

For Nvidia, working with Caterpillar aligns with the company’s physical AI strategy. Physical AI combines AI model training, simulation, and deployment to real-world machines and robotics. “Physical AI is the next wave of AI,” said Deepu Talla, Nvidia’s vice president of robotics and edge AI. Nvidia’s ecosystem, which includes open AI models like the Cosmos family, developer kits, and simulation tools, aims to accelerate adoption of AI across diverse industries, from autonomous vehicles to industrial machinery.

Bill Dally, Nvidia’s chief scientist, described physical AI as the next frontier for the company’s powerful GPUs. Collaborations like the one with Caterpillar illustrate the expanding role of AI beyond traditional robotics companies and into legacy industries that historically have not intersected closely with technology.

With Cat AI, Caterpillar is bringing AI, data-driven insights, and automation closer to construction operators, promising smarter, safer, and more efficient operations. The CES 2026 demo underscores how industrial machinery is embracing digital transformation, setting the stage for the next generation of intelligent construction equipment.