In JLL’s Future of Work Survey 2026, 71% of manufacturing CRE leaders reported high readiness for working alongside AI and robotics in the next three to five years, well above the APAC CRE average of 58%. The commitment is most evident in how manufacturers are spending: two in five have already actively budgeted for redesigning their workplaces for human-AI collaboration. A similar number have budgeted to begin.
The investments manufacturers make today will determine how well their spaces are equipped to support AI and robotics in the next decade. For robotics, that means securing sufficient floor loads, clear pathways and adequate charging infrastructure on the production floor. For human-AI collaboration, it means designing layouts and workstations that support shared tasks between workers and AI-assisted tools. These include embedded sensors for real-time monitoring and co-creative spaces for rapid prototyping.
Figure 1: How the organisation is preparing for AI impact on CRE strategy