A3 unveils lineup for FOCUS: Intelligent Vision & Industrial AI Conference in Seattle

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has unveiled the full program for its inaugural FOCUS: Intelligent Vision & Industrial AI Conference, scheduled to take place September 24–25, 2025, in Seattle.

Featuring expert speakers from AWS, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Intrinsic, FANUC, and more, A3 announced that this event will explore how cutting-edge AI and vision technologies are being applied across various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, defense, energy, logistics, and medical devices.

Registration is now open.

Keynote, conference highlights

Designed for professionals implementing vision, AI, and smart automation technologies in industrial settings, A3 said the conference offers practical insights into real-world case studies, advanced imaging techniques and scalable AI applications.

It also features hands-on exhibits from top solution providers including Basler, MVTec, Kitov.ai, Datature, SCHUNK and more. A3 said that attendees will walk away with strategies they can apply immediately in production environments.

Kicking off the event is Ben Schreiner, head of AI and modern data strategy BD at AWS, presenting “From the Field to Your Operations: What Sports Can Teach Us About Real-Time AI and Vision Analytics.” The session will explore how data-driven strategies used in professional sports can help optimize performance, speed, and adaptability in industrial environments.

The conference features two focused tracks:

• Smart Vision & Imaging, including sessions such as:
  • Smarter Manufacturing with Vision Foundation and Vision-Language Models – Alvin Clark, global developer relations manager, NVIDIA
  • Advances in Vision-Guided Robotics - A multi-speaker session featuring insights from FANUC, OSARO, MVTec and Apera AI

• AI for Industrial Automation, including sessions such as:
  • The Superpowers of Industrial AI Agents – Kence Anderson, CEO and founder, Composabl, Inc.
  • Foundation Models and AI Capabilities in Robotics Software Platforms - Torsten Kroeger, chief science officer, Intrinsic

“This is a critical event for anyone looking to implement next-generation vision technologies in their operations,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. “With global thought leaders from the machine vision, imaging and artificial intelligence fields showcasing real-world use cases, FOCUS will help attendees explore what’s possible today and where the technology is heading next.”

Explore humanoid robotics at A3’s co-located forum 

Attendees looking to expand their understanding of next-gen automation technologies are encouraged to arrive early for A3’s Humanoid Robot Forum, taking place on September 23 at the same venue.

This one-day event brings together experts in robotic hardware, AI, mobility and manipulation to examine how humanoid technologies are reshaping automation.

By attending both conferences, A3 said that participants will receive a $100 discount and gain a broader perspective on the future of automation, from enabling technologies to advanced vision systems and AI-driven performance.