Siemens and Microsoft have joined forces to create a joint project that leverages Generative AI to create AI copilots that enhance human-machine collaboration and innovation in different industries.
The project, called Siemens Industrial Copilot, is an AI-powered assistant that helps users quickly create, optimize, and debug complex automation code, and drastically reduce simulation times.
The AI copilot uses automation and process simulation information from Siemens’ open digital business platform, Siemens Xcelerator, and enriches it with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. Customers have full control over their data, and it is not used to train underlying AI models.
Siemens Industrial Copilot aims to increase productivity and efficiency throughout the industrial lifecycle. Using natural language, maintenance staff can get detailed repair instructions and engineers can access simulation tools easily.
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How AI Copilots are Changing Industries
Siemens and Microsoft envision AI copilots helping professionals in various industries, such as manufacturing, infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare. Several AI copilots are already planned in the manufacturing sectors, such as automotive, consumer package goods, and machine building.
Schaeffler AG, a leading automotive supplier, is one of the first in the automotive industry to use generative AI in the engineering phase. This helps its engineers generate reliable code for programming industrial automation systems such as robots. The company also plans to use Siemens Industrial Copilot in their own operations, aiming to significantly reduce downtimes, and for their clients at a later stage.
Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler Group, said that the joint project will usher in a new era of productivity and innovation. He said that Siemens Industrial Copilot will help his team work more efficiently, reduce repetitive tasks, and unleash creativity. He said that he was excited to partner with Siemens and Microsoft on this project.
How AI Copilots are Enabling Virtual Collaboration
To enable virtual collaboration among teams, Teamcenter for Microsoft Teams will be launched. This is an application that uses generative AI to connect functions across the product design and manufacturing lifecycle.
This integration will allow millions of workers who previously lacked access to Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools to contribute seamlessly to the design and manufacturing processes.
Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella said that this next generation of AI will accelerate innovation across the entire industrial sector. He said that they were building on their longstanding collaboration with Siemens and bringing together AI advances across the Microsoft Cloud with Siemens’ industrial domain expertise to empower both frontline and knowledge workers with new, AI-powered tools, starting with Siemens Industrial Copilot.
Siemens’ CEO Roland Busch said that their shared vision was to empower customers with the adoption of generative AI. He said that this had the potential to revolutionize the way companies design, develop, manufacture, and operate. He also said that making human-machine collaboration more widely available would allow engineers to accelerate code development, increase innovation, and tackle skilled labor shortages.
How does Siemens Industrial Copilot work?
Siemens Industrial Copilot is an artificial intelligence-powered assistant that assists users in creating, optimizing, and debugging complex automation code for a variety of industries. It analyses data from Siemens’ open digital business platform, Siemens Xcelerator, and augments it with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service.
It also enables human-machine collaboration and virtual team collaboration. It can significantly reduce simulation times and production downtimes. It can also provide detailed instructions and assist users with natural language commands. It is a joint project between Siemens and Microsoft that aims to accelerate industrial innovation and productivity.
What is Siemens Xcelerator?
Siemens Xcelerator is an open digital business platform that helps customers accelerate their digital transformation more easily, quickly, and at scale. It consists of a curated portfolio of Siemens and certified third-party software, hardware, and digital services.
It also makes use of generative AI to link functions throughout the product design and manufacturing lifecycle. It is part of a joint Siemens-Microsoft project to develop AI copilots for various industries.
