Steel Collars Join Blue Collars as Louisiana launches groundbreaking humanoid robot pilot in active fabrication yard

ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. — In a move that blends the future of artificial intelligence with the bedrock of heavy industry, the State of Louisiana has formally partnered with Houston-based Persona AI to launch a first-of-its-kind pilot program deploying humanoid robots in a live steel fabrication facility.

The initiative, announced January 22 and hosted at SSE Steel Fabrication’s St. Bernard Parish yard, marks a significant step beyond laboratory testing. Funded and facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding with Louisiana Economic Development’s innovation division (LA.IO), the program aims to position the state as a national proving ground for “embodied AI” in advanced manufacturing.

“This is exactly the kind of applied innovation Louisiana should be leaning into,” said Josh Fleig, Chief Innovation Officer at Louisiana Economic Development. “Partnerships like these will allow our small businesses to adopt new tools, modernize the way they operate and compete at a higher level.”

The core of the pilot involves data collection. Persona AI’s humanoid platforms will be observed and trained within the complex, dynamic environment of SSE’s operational facility. The goal is to teach the robots to navigate uneven terrain, use existing tools designed for humans, and safely perceive their surroundings alongside skilled welders, fitters, and crane operators, tasks impossible for traditional, fixed industrial automation.