Launchpad Build AI has released its Manufacturing Language Model to work alongside its gantry-style assembly robot, pictured here. Source: Launchpad Build AI
Launchpad Build AI revealed several significant milestones today as it expands its AI capabilities for assembly automation. The company has introduced its Manufacturing Language Model, opened its U.S. headquarters in California, rebranded, and brought on senior technical leaders.
Embracing the present era of AI applications, Jon Quick, CEO of Launchpad Build AI, remarked, “Physical AI isn’t just the future; it exists in the here and now. Being based in El Segundo, we are surrounded by first-class entrepreneurs, top-tier talent, and established deep tech and defense tech companies. This is a significant step forward in our journey, coinciding with the launch of our Manufacturing Language Model and our rebrand to Launchpad Build AI.”
Founded in 2020 as Launchpad, the company has created AI solutions to speed up the design and implementation of robotics and automation by up to 50%. Its technology is designed to address labor shortages while improving speed, flexibility, and cost efficiency. With headquarters in Edinburgh, U.K., the company has customers across the U.S. and Europe.
Launchpad Build AI stated that its recent achievements build on its progress following an $11 million Series A funding round last year. The company’s investors include Lavrock Ventures, Squadra Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Scottish National Investment Bank, PXN Group, CX2, and Ericsson Ventures.
Manufacturing Language Model utilizes real-world production intelligence
Launchpad Build AI emphasized that its Manufacturing Language Model (MLM™) is specifically created for industrial automation design and is a groundbreaking innovation.
The company mentioned that the MLM opens up the development of automation, allowing factories of any size to benefit from automation using only a photo, video, or CAD input. Trained on insights from live production environments, it makes robotics adoption more accessible, particularly for high-mix, low-volume manufacturers, who form the majority of the industry.
Rather than attempting to be a comprehensive model, the MLM concentrates on delivering relevant data exactly where it’s needed for more practical and dependable robotic tasks, Quick explained to The Robot Report.
“Why would I go create everything from scratch? If you were to go scrape the Internet, I’d have details on a million different screwdrivers and a million different grippers and a million different tools,” he said. “I’d have tested tolerances. I’d have ideal conditions. I’d have all this valuable information that I should be leveraging to enhance what I’m doing.”
He continued, “The MLM’s approach is, ‘How do I gather all this existing information and, instead of being a broad, all-purpose model that tries to handle everything, package it together for the greatest possible benefit?’”
Launchpad already serves customers in manufacturing and defense, and its gantry system is designed to handle many assembly tasks.
“Manufacturing involves specialized tasks like welding or kitting,” Quick explained. “We are developing capabilities that allow customers to reach a 99.8% effectiveness rate. Our unique advantage is the ability to run a warehouse with 50 digitals gathering data while performing simulations and serving customers simultaneously.”
Digitool is an autonomous programming system that uses real-time robotic vision to manage variations in parts and processes. Source: Launchpad Build AI
Rebranded Launchpad Build AI welcomes new leaders
Launchpad Build AI has updated its brand to better represent its mission of using AI to transform manufacturing and make systems quicker to design, more adaptable to deploy, and more robust in operation.
Ken Moynihan has joined the company as chief technology officer, bringing over twenty years of experience in computer vision, robotics, and AI. He previously held senior R&D and leadership positions at TOMRA, a global leader in AI-driven sorting systems.
According to Launchpad Build AI, Moynihan’s skill in implementing vision-based technologies in practical settings will support the company’s upcoming phase of technical expansion.
Yannis Georgas has also joined as head of MLM, responsible for the development and deployment of Launchpad’s Manufacturing Language Model. Previously at Capgemini Invent, he led industrial data and AI initiatives, delivering agentic AI, large language models (LLMs), and digital twins for global manufacturing and defense clients.
Editor’s note: At the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo on May 27 and 28 in Boston, there will be educational sessions on embodied and physical AI. Registration is now open.
U.S. headquarters selected for strategic industry access
Launchpad Build AI has officially opened its U.S. headquarters at 1330 E Franklin Avenue, El Segundo, Calif. The location was chosen for its placement within one of the nation’s leading aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing hubs.
“We’re still in the early stages of adoption,” Quick observed. “In the U.S., 95% of the country’s 64,000 factories are small and midsize enterprises, and in the U.K., the figure is closer to 98%.”
“Large corporations have the financial resources to hire specialists and spread costs across multiple operations,” he explained. “However, for facilities producing a wide variety of items in smaller batches, the adoption rate is below 3%. Our AI handles the initial diagnostic work, eliminating the need for specialized consultants or large upfront investments.”
“El Segundo’s cross-disciplinary hard tech ecosystem is truly one-of-a-kind, and Launchpad Build AI is precisely the sort of forward-thinking, technology-focused firm our city draws in and supports,” said Chris Pimentel, mayor of El Segundo. “They’re not just developing next-generation AI and advanced manufacturing solutions; they’re also forging collaborative partnerships throughout the El Segundo area.”
