At Siemens Realize Live event in the summer of 2023, Siemens announced that it has been working with Microsoft on using OpenAI’s ChatGPT via a linkage between Siemens Teamcenter PLM (product lifecycle management) software and Microsoft Teams.
Siemens has now announced that it is introducing Siemens Industrial Copilot, an AI-powered assistant, jointly developed with Microsoft, to improve human-machine collaboration in manufacturing. The companies note that this is part of the integration between Siemens Teamcenter PLM and Microsoft Teams that will “further pave the way to enabling the industrial metaverse” by simplifying “virtual collaboration among design engineers, frontline workers and other teams across business functions.”
According to the companies, Siemens Industrial Copilot allows users to rapidly generate, optimize and debug complex automation code, and significantly shorten simulation times from weeks to minutes. The Copilot ingests automation and process simulation information from Siemens Xcelerator and enhances it with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. Both Siemens and Microsoft stress that users will maintain full control over their data and that it will not be used to train underlying AI models.
With Siemens Industrial Copilot, maintenance technicians can use natural language to get assistance with detailed repair instructions and engineers can gain quick access to simulation tools.
Schaeffler AG, an automotive supplier, is reportedly using Siemens Industrial Copilot to hep its engineers generate reliable code for programming industrial automation systems, including robots. Schaeffler also plans to incorporate Siemens Industrial Copilot into its production operations to reduce downtimes.
Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler Group, said, ” With this joint pilot, we’re stepping into a new age of productivity and innovation. This Siemens Industrial Copilot will help our team work more efficiently, reduce repetitive tasks and unleash creativity.”
Teamcenter for Microsoft Teams will become widely available beginning in December 2023. This new app uses generative AI to connect functions across the product design and manufacturing lifecycle by connecting Siemens’ Teamcenter PLM with Microsoft’s Teams to make data more accessible for factory and field service workers. The companies say this move will enable millions of workers who do not have access to PLM tools today to contribute to the design and manufacturing process more easily as part of their daily work.
“Together with Microsoft, our shared vision is to empower customers with the adoption of generative AI,” said Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG. “This has the potential to revolutionize the way companies design, develop, manufacture and operate. Making human-machine collaboration more widely available allows engineers to accelerate code development, increase innovation and tackle skilled labor shortages.”
