Bengaluru: Honeywell has introduced Experion Cognition, an AI-enabled control system platform designed to advance autonomous operations by making recommendations and automated decisions that optimize production and enhance safety within industrial facilities.
The live proof-of-concept for Experion Cognition was demonstrated at Borouge Group International AG’s (“Borouge International”) Ruwais facility in Abu Dhabi.
Powered by Honeywell, Borouge International is advancing what it describes as the petrochemical industry’s first AI autonomous operations at its Ruwais complex in the UAE.
The proof of concept highlights the potential for a significant increase in plant efficiency and improved reliability, while Borouge International plans to continue demonstrating the technology’s capabilities and evaluate opportunities to scale it across its Ruwais and global facilities.
By proactively detecting and mitigating abnormal situations before they occur, Experion Cognition can help reduce process mistakes and downtime, ultimately expanding operators’ scope of responsibilities while optimizing facility production.
Also Read: Honeywell Safety Suite 2.0 Gets Advanced Real-Time Monitoring and Predictive Safety Features
“The industry has talked about autonomous control rooms for years – and now, Experion Cognition brings autonomous control rooms into production, driving safer operations and stronger performance in complex environments,” said Jim Masso, president and CEO of Honeywell Process Automation.
“With AI-powered agents actively managing process abnormalities, operators can consistently achieve better results, day after day.”
The platform combines Honeywell’s decades of process automation expertise with AI models that proactively act on behalf of operators to help resolve anomalies in the control room.
As experienced operators retire, automating situation management can help address the industrial workforce shortage and skills gap.
By delegating cognitive tasks to autonomous agents, Experion Cognition enables less experienced operators to manage plants with knowledge comparable to that of seasoned professionals.
“Representing the petrochemical industry’s first AI autonomous operations, this collaboration sets a new industry standard for efficiency and innovation, upskilling our people, as well as boosting our performance and competitiveness,” said Dr. Hasan Karam, Chief Operating Officer of Borouge International.
“This initiative is a core component of Borouge International’s AI, Digitalization & Technology program reflecting our continued focus on disciplined execution, operational impact and long-term value creation.”
Experion Cognition incorporates several AI-enabled capabilities, including Operations Assistant.
During multiple pilot deployments, the platform demonstrated the ability to make predictions an average of five to ten minutes before alarm incidents, helping operators anticipate and respond to potential issues before they escalate.
As part of Honeywell’s Experion PKS distributed control system network, Experion Cognition is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing control room environments. Honeywell stated that the platform will be commercially available in the third quarter of 2026.
The introduction of Experion Cognition marks Honeywell’s latest step toward autonomous industrial operations, combining AI-powered decision-making with process automation expertise to support safer operations, improved production efficiency, and enhanced reliability across complex industrial facilities.
