The IT/OT Insider Academy
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Early bird: first 10 seats only

New · 3 live sessions · February–March 2027

The IT/OT AI Academy

Everybody talks about AI. Vendors show nice slides. But where do you start? In three live sessions you build with us, find out where your plant really stands, and learn how to deploy Industrial AI fast and at scale.

Our IT/OT Core Academy has already trained 100 students from plants, IT/OT teams and vendors. The AI Academy is its new companion, built for the most important gap in manufacturing today: going from AI talk to AI that works in your plant.

Reserve your early-bird seat
David Ariens and Willem van Lammeren
Your teachers: David and Willem

The problem

AI is everywhere in manufacturing. Except in the factory.

AI adoption is rising. But in manufacturing, most of the new use is generative AI in the office, not on the shop floor. Text generation and text mining now lead. AI in production is growing more slowly.

The IT/OT Core Academy fixes your IT/OT Cooperation and introduces your Industrial Data Platform. Our brand new AI Academy explains you where to start, and how to scale Industrial AI.

Why manufacturers don’t use AI (yet):

  1. 1 Lack of expertise
  2. 2 Data protection questions and privacy concerns
  3. 3 Data availability and quality
Read our EU and US adoption research →

Since we started in 2025, 100+ students have joined our public cohorts:

Electrolux Group Pfizer BASF AstraZeneca Halifax Water John Deere Suez Anheuser-Busch InBev Johnson & Johnson FrieslandCampina Sadara Bayer AGL Energy GE Vernova Fujitsu OKE Sioen Ronal Group Colruyt Group

The Industrial AI Maturity Model

Where does your plant stand?

Our Industrial AI Maturity Model runs from people chatting with their own AI tools at home to a virtual engineer: four levels, moving from human centric to system centric. Between every two levels sits a stepping stone, the things you need in place to move up. Most plants we meet sit at L0 or L1. The academy shows you how to climb.

Click a level, or a ◆ stepping stone between two levels, to explore the model. You can also use the arrow keys.

Level

L0 · Shadow AI

What

People using their own personal AI toolset (the ones they know from home).

Risk

  • Governance / legal: data exposure to third parties!
  • Scaling: does not scale.

Stepping stone

From L0 to L1

Stepping stone

People use the company-provided AI toolset to create reports, small applications, etc. through chat.

Risk

A very simple step to take, but we should distinguish between what an individual can achieve and what the organization can learn.

Level

L1 · Chat · Individual

What

“Excel on steroids”

Risk

When these AI initiatives stay with the individual, this is the final station of your AI maturity.

Stepping stone

From L1 to L1+

Stepping stone

Community / excellence centers are set up to work on standards, best practices and a common language, and to build expertise.

Level

L1+ · Chat · Organizational

Examples L1+

  • RCA bot
  • 5-Why bot
  • HAZOP support bot
  • Training instructor bot
  • …

Key message

This is your ultimate prototyping and learning level!

Stepping stone

From L1+ to L2

Stepping stone

Level

L2 · Reason

This is where autonomy enters the picture!

Examples L2

  1. An anomaly is detected automatically
  2. The system checks all knowledge
  3. It lists potential issues
  4. It sends an operator to collect more data (you will never have enough data)
  5. It creates and assigns the right work order with the right priority

Stepping stone

From L2 to L3

Stepping stone

  • Crystal ball: don’t try to predict what will happen (nobody knows).
  • But… the number one requirement: strong cooperation between IT, Data/AI and Maintenance.

Level

L3 · Virtual Engineer

The future

Deliberately left open. Nobody knows yet what a virtual engineer will look like — but the plants that get there will be the ones that built the stepping stones first.

Session 2 of the academy gives you the assessment to place your own plant on this model.

Can AI run your plant?

Lights-out plants, humanoid robots, AI that understands the whole shop floor: how close are we really? David and Willem separate hype from reality, and explain why AI that helps engineers investigate problems is a more realistic first step than autonomous control.

Three Fridays. From “wow” to “how”.

Session 1

Hands-on Workshop

Inspire. Be amazed.

AI is moving fast. Building applications, even a full SCADA system and a simulator, has become almost child’s play. We built a SCADA for a dam and a root cause analysis bot in a couple of hours. In the first session you build together with us.

  • Live build: from an idea to a working plant app in one afternoon
  • Build your own Virtual Maintenance Engineer: run a root cause analysis on a turbine trip at our Copper Canyon Dam, from timeline to structured report
  • What a standard enterprise chatbot (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot) already does well in a plant, and where it stops
  • The first real win for AI in brownfield plants isn’t autonomous control, it’s autonomous investigation

Take-away: our Plant AI Assistant Pack

Session 2

The Industrial AI Maturity Model

Know where you stand. Know what’s next.

Most plants are stuck between individual chat and shared bots. In this session you place your plant on our Industrial AI Maturity Model, and learn what it takes to climb from L1 Chat to L2 Reason.

  • The maturity model in depth: L0 Shadow AI to L3 Virtual Engineer, and the stepping stones between each level
  • Why process data is different: drift, few failures, operator trust, correlation vs causation
  • The Industrial DataOps architectures that matter most for Industrial AI (a short recap; the full content is in the Core Academy)
  • Ontologies and knowledge graphs: giving AI the context of your plant

Take-away: our Maturity Assessment and Workshop Guide

Session 3

Industrial AI-Ops

Deploy fast, deploy at scale.

Pilots don’t die because the model is wrong. They die because nobody built the edge runtime, the drift watch, the guardrails or the owner after go-live. In session 3 we walk through our Industrial AI Capability Map: what you need to Ground, Reason, Prove, Run and Act, and what changes when you go from one use case to every site.

  • Building for repeat: why the second use case should cost less than the first
  • Rolling out an enterprise assistant safely: usage policy, what may be pasted, champions per site
  • The other half: security and the IT/OT boundary, guardrails, and how much decision authority AI gets (observe, advise, prepare, execute within limits)
  • Buy, build or both: making the call, and evaluating AI vendors

Take-away: our Industrial AI Capability Map

Built for the same mixed room as the Core Academy

I’m in operations or a plant.

You want AI use cases that survive contact with the plant, and to know what to ask vendors.

I’m in IT, OT or data.

You want the architecture, platform and governance patterns to take AI beyond one site.

I’m a vendor or integrator.

You want to understand how plants adopt, evaluate and buy AI, and what your offer must answer.

Trusted by technology vendors, consultants and system integrators from:

Databricks PwC Schneider Electric HiveMQ AVEVA Litmus Endress+Hauser HighByte Actemium Fraunhofer Teradata Novotek NTT DATA

Group 1

Three Fridays, February–March 2027

Session Date Time
Session 1 · Hands-on Workshop Fri, 26 Feb 2027 14:00 CET · 08:00 EST · 2.5h
Session 2 · The Industrial AI Maturity Model Fri, 5 Mar 2027 14:00 CET · 08:00 EST · 2.5h
Session 3 · Industrial AI-Ops Fri, 12 Mar 2027 14:00 CET · 08:00 EST · 2.5h

Live on Zoom. Every session is recorded, so you can catch up if you miss one.

The only early bird we will run

Early bird: first 10 seats only

BASIC

AI Academy (Basic Program)

Early bird price Regular price: €1,199 / $1,399 €999 / $1,099

The full new three-session programme and the private hour with David

  • ✅ 3 x 2.5 hours of focused remote live instructor-led learning,
  • ✅ Includes the hands-on workshop
  • ✅ 1 hour private session with David
  • ✅ Full session recordings, slides, our AI kickstarter packages, maturity models and workshop guides
  • ✅ A network of peers to keep leaning on after the cohort ends
PLUS

AI Academy + 10 Deep Dives

Early bird price Regular price: €1,699 / $1,899 €1,499 / $1,599

Everything in the AI Academy. Plus a full year of Deep Dives.

  • ✅ Everything in Basic
  • ✅ Immediate access to the next Deep Dive, even before your cohort starts
  • ✅ 10 Deep Dive sessions over the following year
  • ✅ Complimentary access to the recordings of every past practitioner panel and deep dive
  • ✅ Complimentary signed copy of our IT/OT Handbook mailed to you
FULL – Best Value

AI Academy + 20 Deep Dives + 4h mentoring

Early bird price Regular price: €2,199 / $2,499 €1,999 / $2,199

For those who want the full ride.

  • ✅ Everything in Basic
  • ✅ Immediate access to the next Deep Dive, even before your cohort starts
  • ✅ 20 Deep Dive sessions (two full years)
  • ✅ Complimentary access to the recordings of every past practitioner panel and deep dive
  • ✅ 4 hours of private mentoring with David, scheduled whenever suits you both
  • ✅ Complimentary signed copy of our IT/OT Handbook mailed to you

Early-bird pricing applies to the first 10 seats only, and we will not run another. Prices excl. VAT.

Bringing your team? Bulk discounts: buy 3 seats, get the 4th free. Also 6+2 and 9+3!

VAT (where applicable) is not included – All dates are subject to change – Our Terms & Conditions apply
This training is offered by IT-OT Insider BV, Eetveldstraat 40, 1980 Eppegem, Belgium. VAT Number: BE1024.106.895
All questions and remarks can be send to academy@itotinsider.com

Shared on LinkedIn

LinkedIn post from Gino Vaes, IT & OT Innovations Architect at Colruyt Group: "Yesterday, it was nice to meet David Ariens from The IT/OT Insider in real life. […] Many familiar topics that were also covered extensively in the IT/OT Insider Academy I completed earlier. And a nice opportunity to finally receive the certificate in person as well." with a photo of Gino and David holding his certificate. LinkedIn post from Clemens Schönlein, Team Lead Operations BU, AI & Analytics: "For the past five weeks, I have had the privilege of attending the IT/OT Academy from The IT/OT Insider. […] It was a fantastic course and has helped me further develop my understanding of IT/OT convergence, including topics such as UNS and MSB." with his IT/OT Academy 101 Core certificate. LinkedIn post from Richard Köhlerstrand, Business Line Manager Operations Control: "Just finished the IT/OT training at itot.academy […] Really interesting sessions. You both have your own way of explaining this stuff that I found it inspiring. If you work anywhere near IT and OT, check it out." with his IT/OT Academy 101 Core certificate. LinkedIn post from Ken Ackermans of Factry: "The IT/OT academy course - 102 Sales Enablement from The IT/OT Insider! I learned a lot about where the IT/OT bridge stands today: the innovations that are making it easier, and the pains that still keep plant floor and IT teams talking in parallel." LinkedIn post from Elias Van Santvliet: "The manufacturing technology landscape involves both Operational Technology as Information Technology. […] I had the great pleasure to participate in the IT/OT Academy hosted by The IT/OT Insider. The insights gained in data architectures will prove valuable in future projects."
Read all testimonials in our Hall of Fame

FAQ

Do I need to have done the Core Academy?
No, but it helps. The AI Academy builds on it, and session 2 includes a short recap of the data architecture you need.
Do I need to code?
No. In session 1 you build with AI, not with code. A standard chatbot account (ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot, even a free one) is enough to follow along.
We have no AI platform yet. Is this for us?
Yes. Most plants start at L0 or L1. You’ll leave with the Plant AI Assistant Pack to start on Monday, and a plan for what comes next.
Is it vendor-neutral?
Yes. Vendors are welcome as participants. We show several tools, and the content is not sponsored.
Are the sessions recorded? What if I cannot make it to one?
Yes. Every session is recorded, and you receive the recording and the courseware afterwards, so you can catch up if you miss one.
Can we run it privately for our company?
Yes, with your own use cases. Get in touch or mail us at academy@itotinsider.com.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, you get a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
How can I attend the sessions?
You will receive a link to the video conferencing system before each session. We use Zoom for the sessions (which we also record so you can replay it) and Miro for the interactive parts.
Do we get bulk discounts?
Yes! Buy 3, 4 or 5 seats and get 1 seat for free. Buy 6, 7 or 8 seats and get 2 seats for free. Buy 9 or 10 seats and get 3 seats for free.

Need more than 13 seats? Get a custom quote or book a private cohort!
Why should my company sponsor this training?
Because the top reason manufacturers give for not using AI is a lack of expertise, and this is where you build it. When someone goes through the IT/OT AI Academy, your organization gains:
  • Fewer AI pilots that die after go-live – we show what it takes to run AI in a plant, not just to demo it.
  • A clear view of where you stand – with the maturity assessment, your team knows which next step pays off.
  • In-house expertise you can trust – your people can judge AI vendors and make the buy-or-build call, instead of leaning endlessly on consultants.
Do I need to have your book?
No. The IT/OT Handbook covers the data architecture that Industrial AI builds on, so it is good background, but you don't need to have bought (or read) it before the AI Academy starts.
What's the difference between the AI Academy and the Deep Dives?
The AI Academy is three sessions, once, taking you from AI chat to AI on the shop floor. The Deep Dives is what comes after: monthly live sessions that go deep on one topic at a time, Industrial AI among them, for as long as you keep coming.
Do I get an invoice?
Yes, you will get a VAT invoice or a normal receipt after payment.
I need to go through purchasing first, can I get a quote?
Yes, you can request a quote via the order page or reach out directly to us via academy@itotinsider.com
Can I book this training on behalf of someone else?
Yes, you can book the training using your own name, drop us a mail at academy@itotinsider.com with the name and email address of the person who is actually following the academy.
Are refunds possible?
If you have read our small print, you'll notice that we don't do refunds. Why? Because once the training has started, you have access to all materials.

However, if you would be unexpectedly unavailable at the time of your cohort, we can move you into another cohort taking place now or in the future.
Do you also offer an e-learning?
No. The value is really in the interaction, the networking, the questions, and building together. However, all sessions are recorded and are sent to you in case you can't make it.

Want more?
Meet the IT/OT Academy Deep Dives

The AI Academy gets you started in three sessions.
The Deep Dives is where we keep going. It's where our community keeps on meeting.

Where the article and the podcast stop, we dig further. Live, monthly sessions going deep on one topic at a time: DataOps in practice, Industrial AI, NIS2, building ontologies, and more. Ninety minutes, ten sessions a year. Recordings of all previous sessions at your disposal.

One year of Deep Dives (10 sessions): €850 / $990

More about the Deep Dives Get one year of Deep Dives

Coming up next

Fri 13 Nov 2026 · 15:00 CET

The State of GenAI in Manufacturing (Nov 2026)

Join David and Willem as they discuss what GenAI really brings to Manufacturing today.

Fri 11 Dec 2026 · 15:00 CET

Hands-on UNS: Building a unified namespace for Sweet Harmony Treats (Dec 2026)

Fri 8 Jan 2027 · 15:00 CET

Our view on the Industrial DataOps Market (Jan 2027)

Questions about the AI Academy?

Want to book for a whole team, or run it privately with your own use cases? Send us a message and we’ll get back to you.

AI is already in your office. Let’s get it onto your shop floor.

Reserve your early-bird seat