New Solidworks AI agents added at 3DExperience World
Dassault Systèmes Unveils AI-Powered Virtual Companions for Engineers and Designers
At the recent 3DExperience World event in Houston, Texas, Dassault Systèmes Solidworks CEO Manish Kumar introduced new AI agents designed to augment the workflows of designers, and engineers. These “Virtual Companions” – Aura, Marie, and Leo – represent a significant step towards integrating artificial intelligence directly into the product development process.
The Rise of AI Copilots in Engineering
Aura, launched in 2025, is now joined by Marie, specializing in materials, chemistry, and science, and Leo, focused on engineering, mechanics, simulations, and manufacturing. Each agent is designed to provide unique insights based on its area of expertise. Unlike a single, generalized AI, the system aims to mimic the collaborative dynamic of a design team, offering varied perspectives when presented with the same query.
The foundation of these “Industrial AI” tools is the Mistral AI foundational model, hosted on Dassault Systèmes’ Outscale cloud. This infrastructure prioritizes both high performance and data security.
From Sketch to Simulation: A Live Demonstration
During a live demonstration alongside Dassault Systèmes CEO Pascal Daloz, Kumar showcased Solidworks AI Leo within the 3DExperience XDesign environment. The demonstration highlighted Leo’s ability to transform initial drawings into parametric 3D models using a “Sketch-to-3D” function. Surrogate modelling allowed Leo to perform fast, computationally efficient performance analysis – specifically, an FEA study – based on a simple text prompt.
This capability suggests a future where engineers can rapidly iterate on designs and explore multiple scenarios without the traditional time and resource constraints of complex simulations.
AI as a Multiplier, Not a Replacement
Dassault Systèmes executives emphasized that the intention of these AI tools is to enhance, not replace, the skills of designers and engineers. Kumar stated, “AI is just the multiplier, you are the value.” This messaging aims to address concerns about job displacement in the face of increasing automation.
AI Adoption: A Measured Pace
While AI was a central theme in keynote presentations at 3DExperience World, breakout sessions indicated a more measured level of immediate interest from attendees. Only 5% of the 355 sessions covered AI, suggesting that while the potential is recognized, practical implementation and broader adoption are still in early stages.
Keyword Extraction Tools Gain Traction
The increasing focus on AI-driven design and engineering is mirrored by growing interest in tools that can help analyse and optimize content related to these fields. Keyword extraction tools, such as those offered by Free Keywords Extractor, Cortical.io, and QuestionDB, are becoming increasingly valuable for SEO and content optimization.
Future Trends & Implications
The introduction of these AI Virtual Companions signals several potential future trends:
- Democratization of Advanced Simulation: Tools like Leo could make complex simulations accessible to a wider range of engineers, not just specialists.
- Accelerated Design Cycles: AI-powered automation of tasks like model creation and analysis could significantly reduce product development timelines.
- Personalized AI Assistance: Future iterations of these AI agents may be able to learn individual user preferences and workflows, providing even more tailored support.
- Integration with Cloud Platforms: The reliance on cloud infrastructure, like Dassault Systèmes’ Outscale, will likely become increasingly common for AI-powered engineering tools.
FAQ
Q: Will AI replace engineers?
A: Dassault Systèmes has stated that their AI tools are designed to augment, not replace, the skills of engineers and designers.
Q: What is surrogate modelling?
A: Surrogate modelling allows for fast performance analysis by creating a computationally cheap mathematical approximation of a more complex simulation.
Q: What foundational model powers these AI agents?
A: The Mistral AI foundational model powers the AI agents, hosted on Dassault Systèmes’ Outscale cloud.
Q: What is the purpose of Aura?
A: Aura is a copilot assistant launched in 2025.
Q: Is “hear hear” or “here here” the correct phrase?
A: The correct phrase is “hear hear,” originating as a way to show agreement in Parliament.
Did you know? The term “hear hear” originated in the British Parliament as a way for members to show agreement with a speaker.
Pro Tip: Explore keyword extraction tools to optimize your content for search engines and reach a wider audience interested in AI-powered engineering solutions.
Stay tuned for further announcements from 3DExperience World, including a presentation by Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.
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