Cloud-first AI sounds great until you remember what a factory actually is: proprietary recipes, fragile uptime, legacy controls that still run fine, and a small team expected to keep everything profitable. We sit down with Brian Thykin, Head of Revenue at Sorba AI, to talk about what industrial AI and machine learning should look like when it’s built for OT instead of for slide decks. The through-line is simple: the people closest to the process should be the ones shaping the models, and the tech should meet them where they work. 

We break down Sorba’s end-to-end on-prem AI ML platform, from industrial data connectors and unified data access to no-code AutoML that can produce anomaly detection, forecasting, advanced process control, and digital twin models. Brian explains why “AI needs the cloud” is often the wrong assumption for manufacturing, how closed-loop control can drive more consistent yield than reactive PID hunting, and why the best results come from rapid iteration that proves value in minutes rather than burning months on a traditional data science cycle. 

Then we zoom out to careers and credibility. Brian shares his hot takes on what skills survive automation, why fundamentals and hands-on troubleshooting still matter, and why “one size fits all” pre-trained models rarely match how your specific plant behaves. We also call out the difference between a real digital twin that enables what-if optimization using time-series data and the kind that looks nice but doesn’t move KPIs. 

If you care about industrial AI, OT security, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and the future of controls engineering, this conversation will sharpen your filter for hype and help you spot practical wins. Subscribe, share this with a plant engineer who’s skeptical of AI, and leave a review with your take: where do you think AI truly belongs in manufacturing?

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🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

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🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

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👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales: https://linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales

Courtney Fernandez: https://linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez

Ali G: https://linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering

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🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with a 5-star podcast review (https://www.podpage.com/automation-ladies/reviews/new/) if you love us!