Caterpillar taps Nvidia to bring AI to its construction equipment

Caterpillar is advancing the integration of artificial intelligence and automation into its construction equipment through a collaboration with semiconductor leader Nvidia. The company is piloting an AI assistive system called “Cat AI” on its Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator, showcased at CES. This system, built on a fleet of AI agents, enables machine operators to ask questions, access resources, receive safety tips, and schedule maintenance, all while working on-site. A key advantage of Cat AI is its ability to collect and transmit extensive operational data—Caterpillar’s machines send about 2,000 messages per second—providing actionable insights without requiring operators to be tied to laptops. In addition to AI assistive technology, Caterpillar is experimenting with digital twins of construction sites using Nvidia’s Omniverse simulation platform. These digital models help optimize scheduling and accurately estimate material needs by leveraging the rich data collected from the equipment. Caterpillar already operates fully autonomous vehicles and views these pilot programs as foundational steps toward broader automation across