Siemens and Microsoft have joined forces in a new partnership aimed at driving cross-industry adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). The collaboration between the two tech giants will focus on leveraging generative AI technology to advance their respective industrial Metaverse strategies.
The first major initiative of the partnership is the introduction of Siemens Industrial Copilot, an AI-powered assistant developed jointly by Siemens and Microsoft. This innovative assistant aims to enhance human-machine collaboration in the manufacturing sector. By utilizing generative AI, the Siemens Industrial Copilot can rapidly generate, optimize, and debug complex automation code, significantly reducing simulation times and streamlining processes. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way companies design, develop, manufacture, and operate.
The Siemens Industrial Copilot is built on the foundation of Siemens’ open digital business platform, Siemens Xcelerator, and is powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. It leverages natural language processing capabilities to provide detailed repair instructions to maintenance staff and quick access to simulation tools for engineers. This enables users to improve productivity and efficiency throughout the entire industrial lifecycle.
The partnership between Siemens and Microsoft envisions the deployment of AI copilots in various industries, including manufacturing, infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare. The companies have already planned numerous copilots for the manufacturing sectors, such as automotive, consumer packaged goods, and machine building.
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One of the early adopters of generative AI technology in the partnership is Schaeffler AG, a leading automotive supplier. Schaeffler’s engineers are utilizing the Siemens Industrial Copilot to generate reliable code for programming industrial automation systems, such as robots, during the engineering phase. The company also plans to incorporate the Siemens Industrial Copilot in its own operations, aiming to reduce downtimes significantly. Moreover, Schaeffler intends to offer this technology to its clients in the future.
To further facilitate virtual collaboration across teams, Siemens and Microsoft are launching an integration between Siemens Teamcenter software for product lifecycle management (PLM) and Microsoft Teams. This integration, set to be available from December 2023, will leverage generative AI to connect functions across the product design and manufacturing lifecycle, allowing frontline workers to collaborate more effectively with engineering teams. By making data more accessible for factory and field service workers who do not have access to PLM tools, this integration will enable a broader range of workers to contribute to the design and manufacturing process.
Siemens will unveil more details about the Siemens Industrial Copilot at the SPS expo in Nuremberg, Germany, in November 2023. The partnership between Siemens and Microsoft represents a significant step towards harnessing the power of AI for industrial applications, advancing the concept of the industrial Metaverse, and driving cross-industry adoption of AI technology. By combining Siemens’ industrial domain expertise with Microsoft’s AI advancements, the partnership aims to empower frontline and knowledge workers with new tools that leverage AI capabilities, ultimately fostering innovation and addressing skilled labor shortages.
