Siemens advances industrial automation with autonomous AI agents
Siemens is creating AI agents to enhance its Industrial Copilots and launching a marketplace for third-party agents, signaling a major shift in automation.
By Nick Flaherty | May 13, 2025 | Business news
Siemens is pioneering a fundamental shift in industrial automation by developing autonomous AI agents that go beyond traditional AI assistants. These agents proactively execute entire workflows without human intervention, marking a leap from reactive query-based systems to truly autonomous operations.
Key Developments:
- AI Agent Architecture: Siemens' system uses an orchestrator to deploy specialized agents that solve complex tasks across industrial systems. These agents learn continuously, understand intent, and collaborate with other agents and tools.
- Marketplace Hub: Siemens plans to launch an industrial AI agent marketplace on the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace, allowing customers to access both Siemens-developed and third-party agents.
- Industrial Copilots: The company distinguishes between Industrial Copilots (user interfaces) and AI agents, integrating both digital and physical agents like mobile robots for a connected, collaborative ecosystem.
Productivity Gains:
Rainer Brehm, CEO of Factory Automation at Siemens Digital Industries, highlighted the potential for up to 50% productivity increases by automating automation itself. "We’re moving beyond the question-answer paradigm to systems that independently execute workflows," he said.
Current and Upcoming Copilots:
- Design Copilot: Accelerates product design for NX CAD users.
- Hydrogen Configurator: Helps design hydrogen production plants.
- Planning Copilot: Optimizes production planning and scheduling (currently in pre-release).
- Engineering Copilot: Generates automation code via natural language inputs.
- Maintenance Copilot: Provides equipment diagnostics without specialized knowledge.
- Operations Copilot: For shop floor workers (expected by end of 2025).
- Simatic eaSie: AI-based assistant for process industries.
Real-World Impact:
At thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering, engineers reported improved code quality and development speed. Siemens' Bad Neustadt site saw scattered data transformed into actionable insights via the Insights Hub Production Copilot.
Vision for the Future:
Brehm envisions a future where Industrial AI agents work seamlessly alongside humans, handling routine tasks while humans focus on innovation. "This makes industrial AI accessible to everyone, regardless of technical background," he said.
Related Links:
- Siemens to roll out generative AI in Industrial Copilot
- Scheffler pilots Siemens AI copilot for automotive
- AI co-pilots go head-to-head for component sourcing
- Siemens Microsoft boost global copilot rollout
For more information, visit www.siemens.com.
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Dr. Emily Wang
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Former Google AI Product Manager with 10 years of experience in AI product development and strategy formulation. Led multiple successful AI products from 0 to 1 development process, now provides product strategy consulting for AI startups while writing AI product analysis articles for various tech media outlets.