DIGITAL TWINS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND THE FINAL FRONTIER OF INDUSTRY 4.0

Abstract

This article explores how technology has historically been an extension of human biological and intellectual development. It analyzes the transformative role of digital twins in Industry 4.0 and their projection into Industry 5.0, highlighting their capacity to optimize processes through precise virtual simulations, their applications, strategic advantages, and implementation challenges. These digital representations connected to physical objects allow for anticipating failures and improving design, production, and maintenance. Although they offer advantages in cost, time, and customization, they face challenges in connectivity, security, infrastructure, and training. The review demonstrates that the convergence of these technologies represents a paradigm shift in the way modern production systems are designed, operated, and optimized. It also addresses ethical, technical, and organizational considerations for their effective adoption.