From Software to Physical AI: What We Learned at the Plug and Play Italy Summit 2026

On June 16 we attended the Plug and Play Italy Summit 2026 at Palazzo Mezzanotte in Milan.

Throughout the day, investors, startups, technology companies and researchers took turns discussing what many speakers defined as the next major step for artificial intelligence: Physical AI.

Beyond the individual startups presented, the message we took home is very clear. We are witnessing the shift from an artificial intelligence that processes information to an artificial intelligence that interacts directly with the physical world.

Beyond ChatGPT: the new frontier of AI

In recent years the debate on artificial intelligence has been dominated by Large Language Models and generative AI. During the summit, however, many speakers highlighted a change of perspective.

The question is no longer just: "How can AI generate content?" But: "How can AI understand and act in the real world?"

Robotics, industrial automation, autonomous systems, smart infrastructure and digital twins were among the most recurring themes of the day.

Physical AI: when bits meet atoms

One of the most interesting concepts that emerged during the summit was the convergence between "bits" and "atoms".

On one side we find the digital world: software, cloud, AI, data. On the other, the physical world: factories, robots, infrastructure, energy, mobility.

Physical AI is born precisely from the union of these two universes. To function in the real world a machine must be able to: perceive its surroundings; understand the context; make decisions; act; adapt to change.

Why Asia is moving so fast

Looking at the main Asian technology ecosystems, a common direction emerges. Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China are simultaneously investing in: semiconductors; embedded systems; robotics; Edge AI; automation; computing infrastructure.

These are not separate sectors. They are all elements of the same technology chain needed to build Physical AI. Many of the companies that today develop industrial computing platforms, advanced components and automation technologies actually originate in Asia.

Europe has a different advantage

If Asia represents a fundamental part of the technology chain, Europe continues to be one of the world's reference points for industry. Automation. Industrial machinery. Advanced manufacturing. Complex production processes.

It is precisely this combination of Asian technological capability and European application expertise that could accelerate the adoption of Physical AI in the coming years.

The role of Edge Computing

One of the most recurring themes during the Plug and Play Italy Summit was the role of Edge Computing. Many industrial applications cannot rely exclusively on the cloud.

The reasons are manifold: latency; security; reliability; data ownership.

For this reason more and more companies are evaluating architectures in which processing happens directly close to the data source. The artificial intelligence of the future will not live only in data centers. It will live on machines. On plants. On robots. In industrial systems.

Embodiment: the concept that most caught our attention

Among the various talks, one of the most fascinating themes was Embodiment. A concept we could summarize simply: "Giving artificial intelligence a body."

To interact with the physical world, a machine must possess: sensors; contextual memory; decision-making capabilities; understanding of physical dynamics; movement and actuation systems.

In other words, it must be able not only to think, but also to act.

Why this topic matters to BridgeOn

As BridgeOn, we observe the dialogue between different technological ecosystems every day. Events like the Plug and Play Italy Summit confirm a trend we see emerging ever more clearly: the next industrial revolution will not be built by a single technology.

It will be built by the integration of hardware, software, AI, automation and infrastructure. And it will be the result of collaboration between different ecosystems.

Conclusions

The Plug and Play Italy Summit 2026 showed a precise direction. Artificial intelligence is leaving the screens. It is entering factories. Robots. Energy systems. Infrastructure. Mobility.

Physical AI today represents one of the most promising areas of global industrial innovation. And the dialogue between Europe and Asia could become one of the key factors in turning this vision into reality.

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Opportunities

• Integration between Asian hardware and European application expertise in industry
• Growing demand for Edge AI platforms for industrial applications
• Europe-Asia partnerships to build the Physical AI technology chain