AI Can Lower the Floor in Automation. It's Raising the Ceiling, Too

Nikki Gonzales, Director of Business Development at Weintek USA and Co-Host of Automation Ladies

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Nikki Gonzales has built a career at the intersection of industrial automation, software, and systems thinking, and in this conversation, she makes the case that the next chapter of manufacturing won’t be defined by AI alone. It will be defined by how well people understand process, data, machines, and the interfaces that connect them. From her work at Weintek to her leadership in Automation Ladies and OT SCADA CON, Gonzales argues that the future of automation is as much about human judgment and lifelong learning as it is about smarter technology.

A big part of that story runs through the human-machine interface. The HMI has evolved from a control screen into a communication layer between machines, operators, plant systems, and increasingly, AI-enabled tools. The conversation explores how open standards, AI assistants, scripting support, and emerging protocols like MCP could expand what industrial systems can do, while also lowering the barrier for more people to work with them.

But the episode is not a story about technology replacing expertise. We also discuss technology raising the premium on real understanding. Gonzales argues that even as AI becomes more capable, foundational knowledge of physics, process, controls, and manufacturing systems still matters. She also makes the case that careers in this space are built not just through technical skill, but through curiosity, relationships, mentorship, and the willingness to keep learning.

In this episode:

How NVIDIA’s Inception program is helping a 30-year-old HMI company innovate like a startup
Why HMIs are a great starting point for applied AI projects
What MCP can make possible in industrial automation that a standard API connection cannot
How AI could lower the barrier to entry in automation while raising the bar for process knowledge
Will the future of skills be more specialized, or more generalized?
How Automation Ladies and OT SCADA CON are opening new doors into automation careers, mentorship, and industry community

3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:

The HMI may be one of the best places to start with applied AI in manufacturing. The HMI already sits at the intersection of the machine, the PLC, plant systems, and operator decision-making, which makes it a natural place to aggregate data and connect AI tools. In that sense, the future of applied AI in manufacturing is not just about smarter machines. It is also about smarter interfaces that can translate, contextualize, and move information where it needs to go.

AI will make automation more accessible, but not less demanding. Nikki argues that AI can reduce the barrier to entry by helping newer users with scripting, debugging, and development workflows, especially on the HMI side. But she is equally clear that these tools raise the premium on people who understand process, physics, controls, and how manufacturing systems actually work, because the consequences of getting it wrong are too high.

The future automation workforce will be built as much through community as through technology. Through Automation Ladies and OT SCADA CON, Nikki makes the case that technical careers are shaped not only by tools and training, but also by mentorship, relationships, and exposure to the full range of roles in the industry. As automation gets more complex, people will need stronger networks and more cross-disciplinary understanding to find their place and keep growing.

Resources in this Episode:

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Learn more about Automation Ladies

Learn more about OT SCADA Con

Other resources: