Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSH) announced the launch of its Physical AI Platform-as-a-Service built on what the company calls the Cognizant Intelligence Spine. The platform connects industrial sensors, IoT devices, factory automation and energy infrastructure into a unified system designed to help enterprises scale autonomous operations.

The platform targets eight industry verticals including utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, aerospace and defense, healthcare and life sciences, and consumer retail. Applications include grid modernization, autonomous quality control, warehouse operations and clinical robotics.

"In some ways, this is the iPhone moment for robotics and Physical AI," said Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant. The company positioned the offering as moving autonomous systems from experimental use to core enterprise infrastructure.

According to a Cognizant study titled "New Work, New World 2026," AI exposure in physical work has accelerated beyond previous forecasts. The study found AI exposure in transportation increased from 6% to 25%, while in construction it rose from 4% to 12%.

Grand View Research estimates the market opportunity for service and utility robotics, autonomous vehicles and humanoid systems could reach nearly $1 trillion by 2033, according to the announcement.

Vijay Narayan was appointed as Cognizant's Global Head for Physical AI. Narayan also leads the company's Manufacturing, Logistics, Energy and Utilities business unit.

The Intelligence Spine platform sits between physical edge devices like sensors and cameras and AI systems that process and act on data. The company describes this as creating institutional AI that enterprises can own and govern directly rather than relying on external systems.

Cognizant is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, and provides technology services and AI solutions to enterprise clients.