THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE TRANSITION TO INDUSTRY 4.0

Аннотация

The fourth industrial revolution, widely referred to as Industry 4.0, denotes the convergence of physical production systems with advanced digital technologies, giving rise to intelligent, interconnected, and self-optimizing factories. Among the technologies that underpin this transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) occupies a central position, since it converts the vast volumes of data generated by sensors, machines, and enterprise systems into actionable knowledge. This paper examines the role of AI as an enabling driver in the transition to Industry 4.0. It first outlines the conceptual foundations and enabling technologies of Industry 4.0, and then analyzes the principal domains in which AI delivers value: predictive maintenance, computer-vision-based quality control, production planning and optimization, digital twins, and supply-chain forecasting. A synthesis table maps common AI techniques to their industrial functions and expected benefits. The paper further discusses the barriers to adoption — data quality, systems integration, workforce competencies, cybersecurity, and investment cost — with particular attention to emerging economies and the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030” strategy. It concludes that AI is not merely one component among many, but the cognitive layer that makes the promise of Industry 4.0 achievable, provided that organizational, infrastructural, and human-capital prerequisites are addressed.