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In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson is joined by Dr Peter Brown, Chief Commercial Officer, and Jamie Jeffs, Director of Industrial Instrumentation at 42 Technology – a UK Cambridge-based consultancy that bridges bleeding edge technology and real-world manufacturing.

Together, they demystify what AI really means for industrial print and packaging, with a particular focus on edge AI: running intelligent models directly on or near machines rather than in distant data centres. Jamie explains how advances in edge silicon and neural processing units now allow complex tasks such as machine vision, anomaly detection and even small language models to run locally – delivering faster response, improved cyber security and more control over sensitive production data.

Peter brings a physicist’s pragmatism to the AI hype cycle. He argues that every project should start with a simple question – “What problem are we trying to solve?” – and a hard look at the underlying data. In many factories, institutional knowledge, paper records and patchy logging still dominate. Before any AI can add value, sensing, data capture and basic analytics must be put on a solid footing.

The discussion ranges from practical use cases – predictive maintenance, stabilising complex print processes, smarter vision systems – to the strategic threat of global competition. Both guests stress that AI is unlikely to remove humans from the loop; instead, it will augment operators, capture expertise and help mid-sized businesses compete with better-resourced rivals.

If you’re curious about how to start an AI journey in print without being overwhelmed by the hype, this episode offers a clear, sober and encouraging guide.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany