The Association for Advancing Automation Welcomes Brian Heater as Managing Editor

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – March 11, 2025 – The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is pleased to welcome journalist Brian Heater as its managing editor. Heater, who most recently served as the hardware editor for global tech news outlet, TechCrunch, will help expand A3’s content offering into podcasts and other multimedia verticals. 

Over the past eight years, Heater established TechCrunch as a leading outlet for robotics and automation journalism. In addition to breaking exclusive stories through his weekly newsletter, Actuator, he served as the head of programming for the site’s annual TC Robotics Sessions events, bringing together leading industry names. 

“We are thrilled to add Brian Heater to the A3 Team, as he brings with him extensive experience in writing about automation as well as programming some of our industry’s leading events,” said Jeff Burnstein, A3 president. “Brian also has a terrific record of producing outstanding podcasts, another area that will add to A3’s leadership in educating current and potential automation users as well as policy makers and the general public about the latest industry trends.”

With 2025 shaping up to be a watershed year for robotics and automation adoption, A3 is well-positioned to serve as a focal point for industry news. In addition to hosting Automate, the largest robotics event in the Americas, A3 organizes an expanding slate of industry events, including a new vision and AI conference, the Humanoid Robot Forum, and the International Robot Safety Conference.

In the managing editor role, Heater will expand A3’s reach to serve existing members, while exposing a wider audience to the role of automation, robotics, and AI in industry and beyond. Heater has more than 20 years of tech journalism experience. Prior to TechCrunch, he served as the managing editor of Tech Times and director of media at Engadget.

About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is the leading global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. Members of A3 represent over 1,300 manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups and consulting firms that drive automation forward. 

A3 hosts a number of industry-leading events, including Automate (May 12-15, 2025, in Detroit, MI), the Robotic Grinding & Finishing Conference (July 21-23, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN), the Humanoid Robot Forum (September 23, 2025, in Seattle, WA), a new vision and AI conference (September 23-24 in Seattle, WA), the International Robot Safety Conference (November 3-5, 2025, in Houston, TX), and the A3 Business Forum (January 19-21, 2026 in Orlando, FL).

Media Contacts:
Jackie Rose
Association for Advancing Automation
[email protected]