Bosch's robotics and AI strategy (with Francine Lacqua)

You are investing in robotics, AI, and automation. What kind of company do you want Bosch to become in 10 years?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

Bosch will be a very innovative company focused on AI and its physical application. AI has to become physical - in homes, factories, vehicles. Bosch will bring AI to people.

The next wave will be products working for us in our lives. Bosch is already in home appliances, industrial automation, and automotive. Humanoid robots will behave more like humans controlled by AI models.

What will the transition from an auto supplier to a broader technology group look like concretely?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

Robots will play a role in households and industry. The robots of the future will behave more like human beings because they are controlled by AI models - different programming than today.

We built automation equipment and use it ourselves. Humanoids or other industrial robots will impact manufacturing by big scale.

What do you see yourselves building in robotics in 4-5 years?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

We can supply software elements like AI, drive systems, tactile sensors. We are a microsensor company - humanoid robots will need many sensors like humans, and they will be full of Bosch MEMS sensors.

The biggest business for humanoid robots seems to be dancing shows now but that will change. It's a startup industry. Micro sensors are a semiconductor business - robots will employ many more sensors than a mobile phone.

China made robotics a strategic industry. Do you worry about oversupply like with EVs?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

China is in a great push on robotics with a lot of money flowing in, but similar money is flowing in the US and Europe. Supply is not yet an issue - we are not in a capacity balance situation like automotive.

The question is where is the quickest application area. I see a lot of robots in factories. There has to be a visionary future and we have to evaluate the best opportunity to bring these machines into application for humans.

China's car market is in a brutal price war. What does that mean for Bosch?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

The intensity of the economy in China is unbelievable with a lot of supply. There is intense fighting between OEMs and component suppliers. This pushes Chinese companies toward export activity.

European companies had a lot of exports towards China. Now you will see more Chinese companies exporting to the rest of the world. All of us have to be competitive globally on a Chinese scale.

How is the Iran conflict impacting your supply chain and inflationary pressures?

Francine Lacqua

Stefan Hartung

The risk is increasing. We have less oil and gas in the market. The conflict impacts helium and sulfur supply chains. These effects are unavoidable if the conflict continues. Supply chains from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam are more dependent on Middle East energy shipments.

So far supply chains have not been dramatically affected but you see impacts on pricing of many goods. We have to monitor tightly. We are cautious.

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