Slimmer Robots, Cleaner Planet: How AI Redesigned the Gripper to Cut Emissions

Why a small part matters

Siemens set out to reduce the environmental impact of component manufacturing by targeting a surprisingly influential part: the robot gripper. Although the gripper makes up roughly 2% of a robot's mass, its cumulative environmental footprint is significant when multiplied across millions of machines in factories worldwide. By rethinking this hand-like device, Siemens found opportunities to drive disproportionately large carbon savings.

Design breakthroughs with generative AI

Using AI-powered generative design tools, engineers explored thousands of design variations automatically. These tools evaluate form, function, and manufacturability in tandem, allowing rapid iteration that would be impractical by human-led processes alone. The outcome was dramatic: Siemens reduced the gripper's weight by 90% and cut the number of parts by 84%, changes that simplify manufacturing and logistics while preserving functionality.

Quantifying the impact

Those reductions translate to as much as 3 tons of CO2 saved per robot per year. Consider the scale: more than 4 million industrial robots are in operation globally. If similar savings were applied across that fleet, the aggregate reduction in emissions becomes a meaningful contribution to industrywide decarbonization.

Integrating sustainability into product development

Pina Schlombs, Siemens' sustainability lead and industrial AI thought leader, emphasizes the strategic role of AI: 'AI and generative AI are fundamentally reshaping how sustainability is integrated into product development.' She points to three practical benefits: enabling smarter design choices, providing near real-time impact assessments, and supporting circular design principles that keep materials and components in productive use longer.

Market and regulatory pressure

The timing of these innovations matters. Global carbon emissions hit a record high in 2024, and companies face growing pressure from consumers and regulators to lower their environmental footprints. Surveys indicate that a large share of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods, and regulatory frameworks such as IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and carbon border mechanisms are pushing businesses to disclose and reduce emissions.

Report and attribution

Siemens' work on the gripper is detailed in a broader report exploring how AI-enabled design can accelerate sustainable manufacturing. The content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review, and was researched, designed, and written by human teams; any AI-assisted steps were limited to secondary production processes that passed human review.

Download the full report.

This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Review's editorial staff.

This content was researched, designed, and written entirely by human writers, editors, analysts, and illustrators. This includes the writing of surveys and collection of data for surveys. AI tools that may have been used were limited to secondary production processes that passed thorough human review.