Honeywell introduces Experion Cognition platform for autonomous industrial operations

Honeywell will release Experion Cognition, an AI-powered control system platform, in the third quarter of 2026 to advance autonomous operations in industrial control rooms. The system integrates artificial intelligence with existing distributed control ecosystems to reduce downtime and increase operational safety across process industries.

Anticipating operational anomalies

The platform uses AI agents to continuously monitor operations and resolve potentially critical events before they disrupt industrial processes. During pilot tests, the system anticipated incidents five to ten minutes before they triggered standard alarms. This window gives operators additional time to evaluate data and implement corrective actions. Jim Masso, President and CEO of Honeywell Process Automation, said the technology represents a significant advancement in the evolution of industrial control rooms.

Addressing the industrial talent gap

Experion Cognition targets the growing shortage of highly experienced personnel as veteran operators retire. The system's autonomous agents can handle cognitive tasks related to managing operational situations. This capability allows less experienced professionals to perform complex tasks with a level of knowledge comparable to veteran staff, reducing the facility's dependence on individual expertise. Facilities seeking to understand how similar tools alter daily workflows can review resources on AI for Operations.

First petrochemical demonstration

Borouge International participated in the practical demonstration of the technology as part of its digitalization and artificial intelligence strategy for petrochemical production. Dr. Hasan Karam, Chief Operating Officer of Borouge International, said, "This collaboration represents the first AI-driven autonomous operations in the petrochemical industry. It sets a new standard in efficiency and innovation, strengthening our operational capabilities and competitiveness." The platform integrates directly with Honeywell's Experion PKS distributed control ecosystem, meaning plants can adopt the software without requiring major infrastructure modifications.

Why this matters for operations professionals

For operations professionals, the shift toward autonomous control systems changes the baseline expectation for incident response. A five- to ten-minute head start on anomalies moves the workflow from reactive troubleshooting to proactive mitigation. Furthermore, the ability of AI agents to manage cognitive tasks provides a structural buffer against the loss of institutional knowledge, allowing newer staff to maintain consistent facility performance while they build their own expertise. Managers overseeing this transition can find targeted guidance in the AI Learning Path for Plant Managers to prepare their teams for these automated workflows.