In this episode, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, on the practical realities of scaling AI in industrial operations. Kafer stresses the importance of pairing quick proof-of-value projects with enterprise-level infrastructure investments. He highlights that successful AI deployment hinges on strong OT-IT integration, continuous model management, and federated data governance. Viewing AI as a competitive advantage, Kafer believes empowered teams using AI tools will outperform those resisting change. His advice: start small with real use cases but build the standardized data foundations needed for long-term scale.

Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, has over two decades of leadership in industrial digital transformation. From early research in neural networks and autonomic computing to pioneering Siemens’ corporate cloud journey with Microsoft Azure, Kafer has consistently bridged advanced technology and industrial applications. He helped establish Siemens’ edge computing frameworks within the Digital Industries CTO Office and now leads U.S. initiatives in AI deployment, edge infrastructure, advanced scheduling, and virtual commissioning for global manufacturing clients.

Discussion Points

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Vineet Gupta is a President at Ayna.

For More Information

Gerald Kafer LinkedIn

Vineet Gupta LinkedIn

Ayna.AI Website