Nvidia Partners Caterpillar Alongside Microsoft Expands Copilot Access

The artificial intelligence landscape continues its rapid expansion, with major developments across heavy industry, finance, and enterprise applications. At CES 2026, Caterpillar and NVIDIA announced an expanded partnership on January 7, 2026, to integrate next-generation AI and robotics into heavy industry. This collaboration focuses on in-cab operator assistance, autonomous construction and mining machines, and advanced machine intelligence for Cat fleets, leveraging NVIDIA Omniverse to create digital twins for manufacturing and supply chains. Caterpillar also unveiled its Cat AI Assistant, a multimodal tool built on 1.6 million connected assets and 16 petabytes of data from its Helios cloud platform, designed to assist operators with voice commands, machine functions, and critical alerts. In the financial sector, JPMorgan Chase's asset and wealth management unit will replace external proxy advisors with its internal AI tool, Proxy IQ, starting April 1, 2026. This system will analyze data from over 3,000 company meetings to ensure shareholder voting aligns with client interests, marking a significant shift towards "Cognitive Banking." Meanwhile, Caltrans is expanding its use of generative AI, providing Microsoft Copilot access to 18,000 employees. This initiative, announced on January 7, 2026, has already saved employees approximately 2.5 hours weekly, with plans for a GIS data hub and a chatbot. On the AI performance front, Artificial Analysis released its Intelligence Index 4.0, where GPT-5.2 (xHigh) achieved the top overall score across economic, scientific, and factual recall tasks. Gemini 3 Pro Preview (high) scored highest in factual recall but also exhibited the most hallucination. Despite rapid adoption, a Vanta AI Security Report indicates over 50% of companies use AI without proper governance, contributing to a 40% increase in AI-related security incidents last year, highlighting critical data privacy concerns. Further demonstrating AI's diverse applications, Sonauto now offers free and unlimited AI music creation, allowing users to own all rights to tracks generated from simple text prompts. An AI coding agent named Droid analyzed 780,000 of its own web searches, revealing that 40% of its queries were for documentation and learning materials, mirroring human research habits. AI startup Artisan, temporarily banned by LinkedIn for using the platform's name and alleged data scraping, is back online and surprisingly saw an increase in lead flow due to the incident. In a unique social trend, deliberately "weird" dating profiles are proving more effective than AI-perfected ones, signaling a preference for authenticity. The Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute also highlighted top CEOs outside the tech sector, noting AI's tendency to overshadow other strong performances.

Key Takeaways

  • Caterpillar and NVIDIA partnered at CES 2026 to bring AI and robotics to heavy industry, including autonomous machines and digital twins using NVIDIA Omniverse.
  • Caterpillar unveiled its Cat AI Assistant, a multimodal tool built on 1.6 million connected assets and 16 petabytes of data from its Helios platform, for operator assistance.
  • JPMorgan Chase will replace external proxy advisors with its internal AI tool, Proxy IQ, starting April 1, 2026, to manage shareholder voting for over 3,000 company meetings.
  • Caltrans expanded Microsoft Copilot access to 18,000 employees, resulting in approximately 2.5 hours saved weekly per employee, and plans further generative AI initiatives.
  • GPT-5.2 (xHigh) topped Artificial Analysis's Intelligence Index 4.0, while Gemini 3 Pro Preview (high) excelled in factual recall but showed more hallucination.
  • Over 50% of companies adopt AI without proper governance, contributing to a 40% increase in AI-related security incidents last year, according to a Vanta AI Security Report.
  • Sonauto offers free and unlimited AI music creation, granting users full ownership rights to tracks generated from text prompts.
  • An AI coding agent, Droid, analyzed 780,000 of its web searches, finding 40% were for documentation and learning, indicating human-like research patterns.
  • AI startup Artisan was temporarily banned by LinkedIn for using its name and alleged data scraping but is now back online, experiencing an unexpected increase in lead flow.
  • Authentic, imperfect dating profiles are gaining traction over AI-generated perfect ones, reflecting a trend towards valuing genuine human connection.

Caterpillar and NVIDIA Partner for AI Robotics

Caterpillar and NVIDIA announced an expanded partnership on January 7, 2026, at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. This collaboration will bring next-generation AI and robotics to heavy industry. They plan to use AI for in-cab operator assistance, autonomous construction and mining machines, and advanced machine intelligence for Cat fleets. Caterpillar also debuted the Cat AI Assistant, which uses voice commands and trusted data from the Helios platform. The partnership will also transform manufacturing and supply chains using NVIDIA Omniverse to create digital twins of factories.

Caterpillar Unveils AI Assistant at CES 2026

Caterpillar announced its new Cat AI Assistant at CES 2026 on January 7, 2026, in Las Vegas. Digital Officer Ogi Redzic explained that AI helps solve real problems for customers in tough industries like mining and construction. Caterpillar built a strong digital foundation with 1.6 million connected assets and the Cat Helios cloud platform, holding 16 petabytes of data. The Cat AI Assistant is a multimodal tool that understands speech, text, images, and video. It helps operators with coaching, machine functions, and even acts on critical alerts, making work easier and safer.

Caterpillar and Nvidia Bring AI to Construction

Caterpillar is partnering with Nvidia to add AI and automation to its construction equipment, announced on January 7, 2026. They are testing a new Cat AI assistive system in the Cat 306 CR Mini Excavator, built with Nvidia's physical AI platform. This system helps operators with questions, safety tips, and scheduling services. Caterpillar also uses Nvidia Omniverse to create digital twins of construction sites for planning. Brandon Hootman from Caterpillar and Deepu Talla from Nvidia highlighted how this collaboration uses data from machines to advance physical AI in the industry.

Caterpillar CEO Unveils Cat AI Assistant at CES

Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed unveiled the new Cat AI Assistant at CES. He also discussed the impact of tariffs and Caterpillar's strategy for 2026. This new AI tool aims to enhance operations and support for Caterpillar's customers.

JPMorgan Replaces Advisors with AI for Votes

JPMorgan Chase's asset and wealth management unit will stop using external proxy advisors for shareholder voting in the US. Starting April 1, 2026, the bank will use its own AI tool called Proxy IQ. This new system will handle all parts of the voting process, analyzing data from over 3,000 company meetings. JPMorgan states this move ensures they vote only in clients' best interests, moving away from firms like Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis.

JPMorgan AI Tool Proxy IQ Transforms Banking

JPMorgan is replacing traditional proxy advisory firms with its new internal AI system, Proxy IQ, for shareholder voting. This move, reported on January 7, 2026, shows how AI is automating complex tasks in banking. Proxy IQ will gather and analyze proxy data from about 3,000 company meetings, speeding up decision-making. This shift is part of a larger trend called "Cognitive Banking," where AI helps banks move from solving problems reactively to offering proactive insights and guidance.

Essential AI Security Practices for Teams in 2026

Many organizations are quickly adopting AI tools, but this brings significant security risks. A Vanta AI Security Report shows that over 50% of companies are using or implementing AI, often without proper governance. AI-related security incidents increased by over 40% last year. Data privacy is a critical concern, as developers sometimes treat data as unchangeable and overlook privacy. This article highlights eight key security practices teams need to consider to safely use AI and protect data integrity in 2026.

GPT 5.2 Tops New AI Intelligence Index

Artificial Analysis released version 4.0 of its Intelligence Index, a new benchmark for advanced AI models. The updated index is much harder and includes three new tests: GDPval-AA for economic tasks, CritPT for physics research problems, and AA-Omniscience for factual recall. GPT-5.2 (xHigh) achieved the top score overall. While GPT-5.2 (xHigh) led in economic and scientific tasks, Gemini 3 Pro Preview (high) scored highest in factual recall but also showed the most hallucination.

Top CEOs to Watch in 2026 Beyond AI

On January 7, 2026, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Stephen Henriques from the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute highlighted top CEOs. They focused on leaders outside the tech sector, noting that AI often overshadows other strong performances. Top performers of 2025 included Jane Fraser of Citigroup, Mary Barra of General Motors, David Ricks of Eli Lilly, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, R. Adam Norwitt of Amphenol, and Patrice Louvet of Ralph Lauren. Boeing was also mentioned as a company to watch in 2026.

Sonauto Offers Free AI Music Creation and Ownership

Sonauto, an AI music platform, is leading a revolution by offering free and unlimited music creation where users own all rights to their generated tracks. Founded in 2023 by Ryan Tremblay and Hayden Housen, Sonauto allows anyone to create complete songs in seconds from simple text prompts. Unlike competitors like Suno and Udio, Sonauto focuses on giving users ultimate control and freedom with advanced editing tools like stem separation and inpainting. The platform aims to break down barriers in music production and empower more creators.

Imperfect Dating Profiles Win Against AI Perfection

On January 7, 2026, an author shared how making her dating profile deliberately "weird" proved surprisingly effective. In an age where AI can create perfectly polished profiles, people are becoming wary of those that seem too good to be true. The author's profile, filled with quirky details like "big camp counselor energy" and an interest in "seltzer," signals authenticity. This approach suggests a new trend in online dating, dubbed "survival of the quirkiest," where genuine imperfections are valued over AI-generated flawlessness to foster real human connection.

AI Agent Droid Reveals Its Web Search Habits

On January 7, 2026, Factory Research revealed insights from Droid, an AI coding agent, after it analyzed 780,000 of its own web searches. Droid independently wrote the queries, built the analysis pipeline, and created visualizations to show how AI agents think. The findings indicate that Droid searches broadly and retrieves specific information, much like humans researching new topics. A large portion of its queries, 40%, were for documentation and learning materials, with another 14% for API references. Droid also performed general knowledge searches, showing users treat it as a versatile assistant.

LinkedIn Briefly Banned AI Startup Artisan Now Back

AI agent startup Artisan was temporarily banned by LinkedIn, but it is now back online as of January 7, 2026. LinkedIn banned Artisan on December 19, not for spamming, but for using LinkedIn's name on its website and allegedly using data scraped without permission. Artisan CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack worked with LinkedIn, removing mentions of the platform and verifying data partners. Interestingly, the ban led to an unexpected increase in Artisan's lead flow due to viral posts. Artisan plans to launch new autonomous agents with more contact channels, including outbound calling.

Caltrans Expands AI Use After Successful Pilots

On January 7, 2026, Caltrans officials announced plans to expand their use of generative AI after successful pilot programs. Marcie Kahbody, Caltrans CIO, highlighted the creation of a Chief Data and AI Officer position and a new data and AI program. They expanded Microsoft Copilot access to 18,000 employees, with early results showing employees saved about 2.5 hours weekly. Caltrans is also developing a GIS data hub for agencies under CalSTA, focusing on work zone safety, and a chatbot to help staff navigate internal websites. They are actively seeking industry partners for future solutions.

Sources

NOTE:

This news brief was generated using AI technology (including, but not limited to, Google Gemini API, Llama, Grok, and Mistral) from aggregated news articles, with minimal to no human editing/review. It is provided for informational purposes only and may contain inaccuracies or biases. This is not financial, investment, or professional advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please verify all information with the linked original articles in the Sources section below.

AI Robotics Heavy Industry Construction Mining Autonomous Machines Digital Twins Caterpillar NVIDIA Cat AI Assistant CES 2026 Multimodal AI Physical AI JPMorgan Chase Banking Financial Services Shareholder Voting Proxy IQ Cognitive Banking AI Security Data Privacy AI Models Benchmarks GPT-5.2 Gemini 3 Pro Hallucination Sonauto AI Music Creation Music Production Online Dating AI Agents Droid Artisan Caltrans Generative AI Microsoft Copilot Employee Productivity Chatbot Data Analysis Supply Chain Manufacturing Cloud Platform Operator Assistance AI Adoption AI Startup Customer Support Governance AI Intelligence Index Partnership

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