SOURCE: Equipment World | January 15, 2026
Caterpillar joined the fray of artificial intelligence announcements at CES 2026 in Las Vegas with a solution it hopes will transform the way its customers manage their Caterpillar equipment. The new Cat AI Assistant promises to leverage data and digitize work processes to make jobsites safer and more productive.
“Technology has always been part of our DNA at Caterpillar,” said Joe Creed, Caterpillar CEO, during his keynote speech in Las Vegas. “… We’re making that invisible layer of the tech stack – the physical foundation that the modern world depends on – more intelligent. Sensors, software, connectivity and AI are turning static infrastructure into systems that can see, systems that can learn and now can adapt.”
At its core, Cat AI Assistant is a group of AI agents operating on top of a digital ecosystem that is presented as a single voice-controlled assistant. Users can interact with speech, text, images or videos to gain access to a wealth of fleet- and machine-specific data.
Cat AI Assistant works in tandem with Helios, Cat’s cloud-based data platform that allows equipment managers to see at a glance which machines are ready for work, which ones need attention and what the order is to get up and running. Helios can also walk technicians through the steps needed for a repair and order parts for same-day delivery.
While Helios operates in the cloud, Cat AI Assistant brings AI to the physical world, working at the ground level where iron meets dirt. The system springs to life after a “Hey Cat” verbal prompt by the user. From there, the user asks a question to access to just about any machine-related information, from performance information and service intervals to machine utilization.
“Cat AI Assistant will be a major leap forward in how Caterpillar supports customers through digital solutions,” said Ogi Redzic, Caterpillar’s chief digital officer. “It will make it easier for customers to buy, maintain, manage and operate their equipment. It doesn’t matter if they’re working from corporate headquarters or remote job site.”
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