At this year’s Caterpillar Construction and Technology Days event in Edwards, Illinois, Equipment World got up-close with the latest iteration of Cat’s prototype in-cab artificial intelligence program.
Demonstrated on a Caterpillar mini excavator in the video above, the program allows operators to say, "Hey, Cat" and give voice commands for the machine to perform tasks, as well as ask questions and receive information explaining how to perform simple tasks or generating key information about the machine.
Examples include asking Cat AI to show instructions for setting an E-fence, asking about fuel levels, turning on the lights and explaining how to check the oil.
Caterpillar says the assistant is meant to work in tandem with operators, helping speed up the learning curve for new operators and fine-tuning veterans' skills.
Caterpillar's AI assistant debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.
“Technology has always been part of our DNA at Caterpillar,” said Joe Creed, Caterpillar CEO, during his keynote speech in Las Vegas at CES 2026. “… We’re making that invisible layer of the tech stack — the physical foundation that the modern world depends on — more intelligent. Sensors, software, connectivity and AI are turning static infrastructure into systems that can see, systems that can learn and now can adapt.”
Powered byCat AI Assistant works in tandem with Helios, Cat’s cloud-based data platform that allows equipment managers to see at a glance which machines are ready for work, which ones need attention and what the order is to get up and running. Helios can also walk technicians through the steps needed for a repair and order parts for same-day delivery.
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00:00:00:00 - 00:00:06:21
Christian Richie
Hey, Cat. How much fuel do I have?
00:00:06:24 - 00:00:15:19
CAT AI Assistant
Fuel level at 40%. Based on your typical fuel burn, you'll need to refuel at approximately six hours.
00:00:15:22 - 00:00:38:10
Brad Brown
So I'm Brad brown. I'm the senior product manager for the cat AI assistant. The county is a digital partner for the operator and the technicians that are working on the machines. We're not aiming to replace an operator. We want to enhance them. And so the AI assistant aims to help them be aware of all of the technology on the machine and how they can leverage it for their problem or their task at hand.
00:00:38:11 - 00:01:03:15
Christian Richie
So this is a prototype that we have demonstrated at CES and found Expo. Right now we have a microphone because we haven't integrated the final hardware solution yet. And I would just give it a wake word and then I ask it in plain language, in my language, what I want it to do, and then it'll think about it and give me a backup response.
00:01:03:17 - 00:01:12:18
Christian Richie
So I'll do a basic one first. So this is, hey, Cat, turn on the lights.
00:01:12:21 - 00:01:15:24
CAT AI Assistant
Myself. The front lines have been turned on.
00:01:15:25 - 00:01:28:25
Christian Richie
So now we've got that. Hey, Cat, turn off the lights.
00:01:28:27 - 00:01:31:02
CAT AI Assistant
The front lights have been turned off.
00:01:31:05 - 00:01:42:04
Christian Richie
All right. And then, we might also ask on. Hey, Cat, how much fuel do I have?
00:01:42:07 - 00:01:49:21
CAT AI Assistant
Fuel level at 40%. Based on your typical fuel burn, you'll need to refuel at approximately six hours.
00:01:49:23 - 00:02:01:18
Christian Richie
Hey, Cat, how do I check the oil level in this machine?
00:02:01:20 - 00:02:11:02
CAT AI Assistant
Didn't check the oil level. Park the machine on level ground and let the engine cool for 30 minutes. Open the engine access door loads and wipe the dipstick.
00:02:11:03 - 00:02:12:02
Christian Richie
Reinsert loads.
00:02:12:07 - 00:02:14:04
CAT AI Assistant
Then check the oil level between.
00:02:14:07 - 00:02:17:21
Christian Richie
Images and instructions that I can do.
00:02:17:24 - 00:02:21:23
CAT AI Assistant
Do you want to know more about the cooling system.
00:02:21:26 - 00:02:31:08
Christian Richie
As well? So those are some of the things we have in this prototype. And again this is a first pass. And we're working on what we're going to do for production.
00:02:31:09 - 00:02:49:24
Brad Brown
Our long term vision is to be a proactive partner. It's there when you need it and it's not there when you don't. Right. It should be hidden when you don't need it, but the moment you do need it, the moment we sense that, hey, maybe you're putting too much where on that machine or too much stress, or the boom's got too much shift in it because you're working it a little too hard.
00:02:49:27 - 00:02:58:18
Brad Brown
The assistant should step in and help you. It should help coach you. It should always be that partner never taking control over the machine.
00:02:58:25 - 00:03:20:24
Ben Thorpe
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