Tech giants Siemens and Microsoft are widening their collaboration in industrial automation with the enhanced Siemens Industrial Copilot.
During this digital age, industrial AI has emerged as an influential technology across numerous industries.
By improving operational efficiency, enabling innovation and reducing costs, it has proven its ability to craft more resilient and efficient industrial systems.
In an ever-changing industrial landscape, it’s vital to embrace technologies like industrial AI to remain competitive and future-ready.
Two organisations showcasing their ability to utilise this innovation are Siemens and Microsoft.
The pair recently announced they will be expanding their industrial AI collaboration through Siemens Industrial Copilot, which leverages Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.
By doing so, the technology will improve efficiency, reduce downtime solve labour shortages and manage the evolving demands of the manufacturing industry.
Judson Althoff, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Microsoft, explains: “The collaboration between Siemens and Microsoft marks a pivotal moment in the industrial sector; one where AI transformation becomes a cornerstone for innovation and operational efficiency.
“By integrating Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service into Siemens’ industrial solutions, we are equipping companies with cloud-based AI tools to simplify complex challenges, drive productivity, and help them stay competitive in an increasingly dynamic environment.”
Siemens: A pioneer in technological advancement
Siemens is a global technology company based in Munich.
By working across several sectors, including mobility, healthcare, infrastructure and industry, the organisation aims to catalyse greater technological and sustainable advancements.
Siemens strives to ensure all businesses can access the scope of benefits that digital and sustainable transformation offers through merging the digital and real world.
By prioritising sustainability, Siemens positions itself as a pioneer in technological advancements across industries and impacts the future of digitalisation, automation and sustainability.
Cedrik Neike, a Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Digital Industries, says: “Together with Microsoft we scale industrial AI, empowering our customers throughout the industry to become more resilient, competitive and sustainable.
“Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering shows how customers can use the Siemens Industrial Copilot, even in highly-demanding environments as a major efficiency boost.”
Microsoft’s use of AI
Microsoft is an international technology company that offers an extensive span of devices, services, software and solutions.
The company is recognised for its cloud platform, Azure, and software products such as Microsoft Office and Windows.
Through its work, Microsoft aims to ‘empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more’.
Microsoft highlights its ability to harness the power of AI effectively through its enterprise solutions, cloud infrastructure and productivity tools that aim to enhance user experience and improve efficiency, while also maintaining a clear focus on ethical and responsible AI development.
Siemens Industrial Copilot
First introduced in July 2024, the Siemens Industrial Copilot is a digital assistant that leverages AI to improve engineering processes and enhance industrial automation.
The technology merges Siemens’ intense knowledge across several industries with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to optimise workflows, enhance quality assurance and automate routine tasks. By doing so, the Copilot accelerates innovation and productivity across a number of industrial environments.
Already, more than 100 companies use this innovative technology to enhance their operations.
Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, a machine industry company, is aiming to roll out the technology from 2025.
Dr. Volkmar Dinstuhl, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Automotive Technology, explains: “The Siemens Industrial Copilot will prospectively ease our workload and address the pressing challenges of labour shortages and increasing complexity in battery testing.
“This AI-powered solution will be a game-changer for our industry, and we will actively roll it out across our machines.”
Siemens will share further details on the Siemens Industrial Copilot at the SPS expo in Nuremberg, Germany, in November 2024.
