Thyssenkrupp rolls out ‘game-changing’ Industrial Copilot globally
28 October 2024 
German-headquartered Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering is planning to roll out the Industrial Copilot – the AI-based industrial assistant developed jointly by Siemens and Microsoft – globally from early 2025 in a bid to improve efficiency, cut downtime, and address labour shortages. Its machines will be engineered with the assistant, especially for complex applications such as automated battery production and hydrogen assembly lines.
Siemens describes the Copilot as the first generative AI-powered assistant for industrial engineering and, so far, the only app of its type that can write code for automation engineering. It adds that Thyssenkrupp is one of more than 100 industrial companies in Europe and the US that have adopted the Industrial Copilot since its launch earlier this year. Another is Schaeffler.
Thyssenkrupp engineers are using the Industrial Copilot to create TIA Portal projects, and to develop structured control language (SCL) code faster for PLCs. It also generates machine visualisations in WinCC Unified, allowing the engineers to reduce repetitive and monotonous tasks such as automating data management and sensor configuration.
For example, one of Thyssenkrupp’s machines helps to ensure the quality of EV batteries. Sensors, cameras and measurement systems monitor quality at multiple stages across the machine, conducting complex evaluations to detect whether battery discharges are exceeding set limits. It is using the Copilot to automate repetitive tasks, such as data management and sensor configuration, and to report the steps needed to comply with strict battery inspection requirements.
The assistant is also handling documentation tasks (both routine and essential), allowing engineers to focus on complex, value-added activities. Its real-time problem-solving capabilities are helping to cut downtime and ensure smooth production.
“The Siemens Industrial Copilot will prospectively ease our workload and address the pressing challenges of labour shortages and increasing complexity in battery testing,” says Dr Volkmar Dinstuhl, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology. “This AI-powered solution will be a game-changer for our industry, and we will actively roll it out across our machines.”
“Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering shows how customers can use the Siemens Industrial Copilot even in highly demanding environments as a major efficiency boost,” remarks Cedrik Neike, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries.
Some 120,000 users of Siemens TIA Portal engineering software can now use the Industrial Copilot to enhance the way they work. The generative AI-powered assistant, which became available in July 2024, streamlines workflows, reducing manual effort and addressing skills shortages. It includes a chat function that provides instant, precise answers, eliminating the need for lengthy searches. It also allows users to create panel visualisations in 30 seconds, and to generate code that requires only 20% adaptation.
“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,” says Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s chief commercial officer and executive vice-president. “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.”
At the SPS show, Siemens has revealed future plans for the Industrial Copilot. To avoid data security concerns, Siemens is planning a version of the Copilot that runs entirely on site, without needing a cloud connection.
According to a recent Gartner report, 75% of developers will use generative AI regularly by 2028 to assist with code creation – up from less than 10% in 2023.
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