We’ve been hearing how Artificial Intelligence is going to replace white collar workers like computer programmers. But it was long believed that physical trades would be the last jobs threatened by AI.
Construction, electrical, and painting were thought to be immune to AI because they require delicate physical manipulation and novel problem solving on site. AI is great at scraping information and regurgitating it, but the kind of high-level robotics required to paint a home seemed decades away.
A release last week from ABC Painting & Textures begs to differ, and suggests that AI painting robots may be closer than we thought.
The Denver Metro area painting company announced that its deploying a NOVA-S Compact, an AI-powered robot painting system developed by Nova Spraytec in Germany.
“We develop Spraybots to automate manual spray processes in the construction and renovation sector,” Nova Spraytec says on its website. “We provide the work force with more efficient tools, to make hard jobs on construction sites easier and enhance human performance.”
What that suggests is that the robots won’t replace all your human workers, but more of your human workers may be managing robots rather than painting themselves.
“This isn’t about replacing craftsmanship–it’s about enhancing it,” said Ben Lachini, owner of ABC Painting. “Our skilled painters are now able to focus on detail work and precision, while the robot handles large-scale applications quickly and flawlessly.”
According to specs, the NOVA-S can paint 1,690 square feet per hour on walls, 4,300 square feet per hour on ceilings, and results in a 35% materials savings due to minimal waste. The robots are equipped with advanced sensors like a Roomba and can switch to a manual mode for tight spaces.
“With this technology, we’re not just painting walls – we’re redefining what’s possible in the painting industry,” said Ben Lachini, owner of ABC Painting. “By leveraging automation, we can provide higher-quality results in less time and at lower costs, making premium painting services more accessible than ever.”
Here is a video of the robot paint sprayer in action.
Would you ever consider adding an AI-powered painting robot to your fleet? Let us know in the comments.
