The potential for artificial intelligence in printing is growing. It isn’t meant to replace people or creativity, but it can handle repetitive tasks, improve consistency, and allow teams to focus on higher-value work. As more shops experiment and share what works, others may feel more prepared to try it themselves. For now, AI is helping those who are ready to start small, test ideas, and use what makes sense. 

A survey by PRINTING United Alliance and NAPCO Research revealed that 40 percent of print providers have added AI tools into some part of their workflow. Another 26 percent say they expect to do so within the year. That still leaves one-third who have no specific plan in place. 

For many, the appeal is in trying AI in one or two areas rather than making large-scale changes. The data suggests that interest is growing, but hesitation remains. This split reflects differences in staffing, awareness, budgets, and technical infrastructure. 

Print companies using AI today are applying it in a few key areas. In prepress, AI helps check files for formatting and image issues. It’s also used in production planning, helping teams schedule jobs more effectively and cut down on idle press time. 

On the customer side, AI is showing up in marketing and estimating. It supports things like automated email responses, personalized outreach, and data-based pricing tools. Some firms are also exploring AI-generated content, especially for short-run campaigns or social media materials. 

Heidelberg has connected thousands of presses to a cloud system that tracks performance data. Its AI assistant, PAT, reviews this data to suggest changes that can improve job speed, quality, and material use. A newer solution in development, Prinect Touch Free, will select the best production method without needing a press operator to decide. 

Scodix also introduced a design-focused AI tool at drupa 2024. This tool helps suggest where embellishments like foil or spot UV might be most effective. It learns from past print jobs and removes some of the trial-and-error involved in specialty print work. 

For those who haven’t adopted AI yet, the reasons vary. Some are unsure what problems AI would actually solve. Others point to a lack of technical knowledge, concerns about data privacy, or equipment that isn’t compatible with modern software. 

Data is a major factor. AI tools need accurate and consistent data to perform well, but many small to mid-sized printers don’t track job-level details in a way that AI systems can use. Without that foundation, it’s harder to get meaningful results. 

For now, most printers adopting AI are starting with one use case, gathering feedback, and deciding if the benefit is worth expanding. As tools become easier to use and case studies more available, more print providers may decide to give AI a try—one project at a time.