by Albert Alsina (ERNI Spain)
In the first week of March, ERNI participated in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, one of the world’s leading platforms for connectivity, digital ecosystems and emerging technologies. We used the opportunity to demonstrate how we translate technological trends into concrete business solutions. Pavo Kohler (CEO of the ERNI Group) and Albert Alsina (Managing Director, ERNI Spain) joined the team on site.
Turning hype into engineering reality
Artificial intelligence was once again one of the dominant themes at MWC 2026. Yet, while many discussions focused on vision and potential, our objective was to show what applied AI looks like when engineering excellence meets creativity and user focus.
At Talent Arena 2026, we presented an AI-driven robotic arm – the result of a collaboration with ABB Robotics. As part of the project, ERNI has implemented complex AI agents, featuring a voice-based conversational interface and real-time action execution, including an interactive experience showcasing a new, natural and intuitive way to collaborate with robots.
As part of demonstrating the capabilities of the robotic arm at the event, we invited the visitors to take a selfie. Within seconds, the system processed the image and transformed it into a personalised caricature. The robotic arm then recreated the drawing on paper.
What appeared as an entertaining experience was in fact a carefully designed end-to-end system. The solution required reliable image recognition, trained AI models capable of stylistic transformation, secure data handling, real-time processing and seamless integration with robotic hardware. Each component had to interact precisely to ensure consistent quality and performance under live conditions.
A system perspective on AI
The demonstration reflected our broader approach to AI projects. For ERNI, artificial intelligence is never a standalone feature. It is part of a system. This means considering architecture, scalability, data governance, cybersecurity and lifecycle management from the very beginning.
Developing an AI-powered solution requires more than selecting a model. It involves defining clear use cases, validating data sources, ensuring explainability where required and integrating the solution into existing IT and operational landscapes. The robotic arm showcased how creativity and engineering can go hand in hand when this system perspective is applied consistently.
Our experts worked across disciplines: software engineering, embedded systems, cloud integration and data science. This interdisciplinary collaboration ensured that the solution was not only innovative but also robust and maintainable. The live setup at Talent Arena demonstrated stability and responsiveness, qualities that are essential in industrial and regulated environments.
From demonstrator to business value
While the robotic arm attracted attention, the underlying message was practical. AI can enhance products and services when it is implemented responsibly and with a clear value proposition. Whether in manufacturing, MedTech, telecommunications or consumer solutions, the key lies in transforming algorithms into reliable, secure and scalable systems.
Our participation in Barcelona therefore served as a platform to engage with decision-makers about concrete challenges: How can AI be integrated into existing architectures? How do organisations ensure compliance and data protection? How can development teams embed AI capabilities into agile processes without compromising quality? By presenting a tangible use case, we were able to move these conversations from theory to practice.
International collaboration in action
The strong presence of ERNI at MWC 2026 highlighted the benefits of our international setup. Close proximity to local markets, combined with access to global expertise, enables us to support clients efficiently and flexibly. The exchange between our teams during the event reflected our culture of shared responsibility and continuous learning.
Having our CEO on site reinforced this commitment. Direct dialogue with partners and clients is essential for understanding market needs and shaping long-term relationships built on trust and transparency.
Summary: Beyond the event
The real value of major industry events lies in their follow-up: transforming insights into projects, prototypes into products, and ideas into measurable outcomes. Our contribution at Mobile World Congress and Talent Arena was therefore more than a showcase for us. It demonstrated how ERNI combines Swiss Software Engineering principles with creative innovation. Precision, reliability and a strong focus on added value remain at the core of our work.
As digital ecosystems continue to evolve, the ability to integrate AI into complex system landscapes will be a defining factor for success. In Barcelona, we illustrated what this can look like in practice.
If you are interested to learn more about further robotic arm use cases, read also our article article Technology with purpose: Making music truly inclusive.