Hardly a surprise, but German industrial technology juggernaut Siemens has said it will go big on AI at Hannover Messe next week. In truth, quite how big is unclear, but it has stuck out a press notice with AI in the headline, and details of a number of new services and partnerships based around an industrial version of AI technology, including with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and German industrial equipment manufacturer Schaeffler Group. Of course, as with MWC a couple of months back, and every sort of industrial technology trade show in between, AI is the buzzword, but it remains a developing technology and a prototype solution in most instances. But not for Siemens, it says.
The firm has said its generative AI tool, called Industrial Copilot, will be commercially available on its Xcelerator Marketplace this summer, and on show in Hanover next week, at Europe’s biggest Industry 4.0 showcase. It follows its announcement in February that it is bundling generative AI with its Senseye machine learning software for predictive maintenance cases in time for the spring (now). Siemens Industrial Copilot, unveiled at Smart Production Solutions (SPS) trade show in Nuremberg last November, helps automation engineers speed up the generation of code for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), the devices that control most machines in factories.
It is presented as an “integrated generative AI-powered assistant in a production machine”, and has been developed with Schaeffler, which produces motion technology (“rolling element bearings”, and suchlike) for the automotive and aerospace industries, primarily. Microsoft is also involved. “Engineering teams can significantly reduce time, effort and the probability of errors by generating code through natural language inputs,” said Siemens. The Senseye AI solution draws on IoT telemetry data and other operational metrics in production machines and processes to guide industrial companies on timely maintenance fixes and interventions, and gives the software a “conversational user interface”.
Siemens has expanded its work with Schaeffler to “integrate” the Industrial Copilot solution into “all areas of industry”, it said. The partnership, to be memorialised at Hannover Messe with an official memorandum-of-understanding, will see them work “even more closely on digital transformation and generative AI”. And for an event and a country (Hannover Messe, in Hanover, in Germany; effectively the home of Industry 4.0 in the home of Industry 4.0) which has staked significant political capital on Industry 4.0, there will be a further show of power when chancellor Olaf Scholz swings by the Siemens stand (the “biggest booth”) to “experience the transformative power of generative AI”.
If he does show up, Scholz will be waited on by Roland Busch, president and chief executive at Siemens, as well as Klaus Rosenfeld, chief executive at Schaeffler. Busch is also to take to the stage on Monday in a session with Rev Lebaredian, vice president of ‘omniverse and simulation technology’ at NVIDIA, to discuss “AI-powered digital twins… and the industrial metaverse”, said Siemens. “They will explore the potential of immersive experiences for customers in all industries and showcase how Siemens’ physics-based digital twins powered by NVIDAI Omniverse and AI are driving productivity.”
Busch said: “Together with our partners, we will be showcasing how innovations like AI, digital twins and software defined automation can help customers to address multiple challenges. From increasing competitiveness, reducing costs, overcoming labour shortages or increasing sustainability, Siemens has the technologies that industries need right now.”
Cedrik Neike, chief executive for digital industries at Siemens, said: “Our AI solutions, such as the Siemens Industrial Copilot, show our commitment to combining the real and the digital worlds. Last year, we presented our vision of putting AI at your fingertips and highlighted the huge opportunities these capabilities will bring. Now, we’re turning this vision into reality by taking AI from concept to scale. And this new reality goes beyond engineering and operations. It’s a game-changing transformation that is also tackling challenges like labour shortage and climate change.”
Meanwhile, Siemens will also presents its Electrification X solution to manage, optimise and automate electrification infrastructure for commercial, industrial, and utility customers. “The aim is to improve efficiency and performance while reducing costs and CO2 emissions,” it said. Siemens is also presenting new apps as part of its Building X digital building platform, including a ‘sustainability manager’ app for operating manufacturing and office spaces, and a Comfort AI app for AI-based control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems within a building.
