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E59: Can AI Become a Trusted Tool for Industrial Field Workers?

Updated: Jul 30

As artificial intelligence moves from the office to the factory floor, Contextere CEO and co-founder Gabe Batstone shares how their product Madison is helping frontline workers do their jobs better, faster, and more safely, and why many blue collar jobs are uniquely protected from displacement by AI systems.


AI & The Future of Industrial Field Work


In this episode of the Ask AI Podcast, host Elena Putilina sits down with Gabe Batstone, CEO and co-founder of Contextere, an industrial AI company based in Ottawa and New York City.


Contextere is on a mission to equip blue-collar workers with intelligent tools that boost productivity, improve safety, and reduce equipment downtime. At the heart of their platform is Madison, a digital assistant that delivers real-time, personalized insights to field technicians based on who they are, where they are, and what they are doing.


Gabe, who previously worked on the F35 project at Lockheed Martin, shares the company's journey from early support at Urban-X and the Canadian Technology Accelerator in Brooklyn to becoming a trusted partner to global enterprises in aerospace, energy, and other mission-critical sectors.


This conversation explores how Contextere is helping to solve the skilled labor gap by augmenting — not replacing — frontline workers. It also highlights the importance of user-driven product design and why the future of industrial work depends on smarter, safer, and faster decision-making in the field.


Tune in to learn how AI is impacting blue collar jobs, and why many roles will be insualted from robotic replacement for the foreseeable future. Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts


What you'll hear


  • Why AI is augmenting rather than automating blue-collar work

  • How frontline feedback shaped the design of Contextere’s Madison assistant

  • The role of AI in boosting productivity and safety in mission-critical industries

  • Why the skilled labor shortage makes augmentation more urgent than ever

  • How AI helps field technicians work faster and with more confidence


Episode links



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Since 2017, Ask AI has been helping people spot the opportunities and navigate the challenges associated with the increased adoption of artificial intelligence at work. Our volunteers produce a podcast, demos, newsletter, and free resources.


As an independent nonprofit, we provide a trusted, balanced perspective on this transformative technology that is reshaping the future of work and redefining industries and professions worldwide.



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