What is the difference between embedded AI features and Virtual Companions in SOLIDWORKS?

Embedded AI refers to features and capabilities built on machine learning that enhance current design workflows. Virtual Companions are AI assistants that can be prompted with natural language to reveal knowledge and perform specific tasks. Both embedded AI features and Virtual Companions are available within the SOLIDWORKS Design user interface.

AI Product Design with Embedded AI Tools

Q: What is AI in SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS AI refers to a set of intelligent capabilities that assist engineers by automating repetitive tasks, providing design guidance, and enabling workflow-level orchestration through both embedded features as well as Virtual Companions you can interact with via natural language.

Q: What AI features are currently available in SOLIDWORKS?

Current capabilities include automated drawing generation, general design assistance via interactive chat, command predictor, sketch analysis and repair, fastener recognition, and much more on the horizon that is developing quickly. For more on what is available in SOLIDWORKS AI, visit this page: www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-ai-cad-tools-workflow-optimization. Stay up to date with the latest features here: www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-design/whats-new

Q: Does SOLIDWORKS AI use customer data for training?

No. Customer data is not used to train AI models. Governance controls ensure protection of intellectual property and you can learn more by visiting the 3DS Trust Center. Visit this page here: https://www.3ds.com/trust-center/

Q: Can AI create drawings automatically?

Yes, SOLIDWORKS Design includes the ability to auto-generate 2D drawings by prompting Virtual Companions using natural language. Drawings can be generated according to specified standards, templates, and dimensioning schemes, accelerating the documentation process.

Q: Can AI automate repetitive CAD work?

Yes, SOLIDWORKS AI automates repetitive engineering tasks like creating drawings and generating assembly structures. Additional capabilities will be included in future releases.

Q: How does SOLIDWORKS AI protect intellectual property?

SOLIDWORKS AI ensures customer IP remains isolated and secure. Learn more about specific security protocols by visiting the 3DS Trust Center. Visit this page here: https://www.3ds.com/trust-center/

Q: How can I start using AI in SOLIDWORKS?

Start with available embedded AI features and the current capabilities with Virtual Companions, available in the "AI Lab" task pane directly inside of SOLIDWORKS Design. Access to Virtual Companions requires activation of Cloud Services, which is included in every license of SOLIDWORKS Design. Learn more here: https://www.solidworks.com/lp/get-started-cloud-services

Q: Can AI automatically fix CAD models?

AI can identify issues, explain errors, and suggest corrections, but engineers remain responsible for approving modifications.

Q: Will AI replace CAD designers and engineers?

No. AI assists with automating repetitive tasks and revealing knowledge, but engineers remain responsible for design intent, validation, and decision making.

AI Purpose-Built for Engineers

From initial ideation to final optimization, SOLIDWORKS® allows you to integrate AI and Virtual Companions into your design process. Securely refine every iteration with AI CAD automation, allowing you to focus on high-value engineering while keeping your proprietary data and IP protected. By automating manual updates and streamlining the design workflow, engineering teams can focus on solving complex problems, high-value work, and accelerating product development to bring superior products to market more quickly. Access to SOLIDWORKS AI capabilities and Virtual Companions is included with every commercial SOLIDWORKS Design license. AI usage is measured through a consumption model using Tokens.

The Latest AI Enhancements

SOLIDWORKS AI continuously advances how product engineers design, validate and document—automating time-consuming tasks, reducing manual effort and delivering greater accuracy at every stage of the workflow. With multiple enhancement releases each year, staying current with SOLIDWORKS AI means your team maintains a measurable edge in development speed, product quality and time-to-market.

SOLIDWORKS AI Virtual Companions: An Expert at Your Side

Bringing a Virtual Companion into your workflow enhances how you use AI manage product design. It handles repetitive tasks and surfaces the insights you need, so you can stay focused on real engineering problems. The result is faster development, better product quality, and tools that fit naturally into your existing process. Explore how Virtual Companions combine engineering context with integrated capabilities that help engineers move through design, validation, and documentation faster.

AURA – Context and Knowledge

SOLIDWORKS 3D model with AURA user interface

AURA connects engineering context, documentation, and knowledge.

What AURA Helps You Do

Ask context-aware questions about your active design, assembly, or project
Explore relevant documentation and design process knowledge without leaving SOLIDWORKS
Summarize technical discussions, design review notes, and engineering document
Navigate SOLIDWORKS Design and 3DEXPERIENCE platform resources faster

Availability: Available today with Cloud Services.

Explore Virtual Companions

LEO – Engineering Design Intelligence

SOLIDWORKS 3D model with LEO user interface

LEO will expand mechanical design intelligence across modeling and validation workflows.

Convert specifications, requirements, and natural language prompts into structured parametric CAD
Diagnose model issues and improve performance
Transform legacy or imported data into parametric models capturing design intent
Support engineering review and documentation workflows

Availability: Available today with capabilities expanding through 2026 and beyond.

Explore Virtual Companions

Discover how AI tools are built for SOLIDWORKS Learn more

AI Capabilities that Work Inside Your 3D CAD Workflow

Using AI shouldn't mean leaving your workspace. SOLIDWORKS integrates AI directly into your environment to enhance how engineers work. SOLIDWORKS AI brings expert-level intelligence into the 3D design interface you already know, organized into five focused capability areas: Engineering Guidance, Design Validation, Intent to CAD, Manufacturing Documentation and Assembly Optimization. Explore featured AI-powered CAD tools in depth and watch videos that bring each capability to life.

Engineering Guidance

Brings expert modeling guidance into SOLIDWORKS to automate routine work, resolve errors and help every engineer work faster.

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Intent to CAD

Turns natural language, CAD files, scans and legacy drawings into editable parametric models while preserving design intent.

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Design Validation

Catches compliance, tolerance and manufacturing issues early so engineers can stay on track to production.

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Assembly Optimization

Automates assembly tasks, improves performance and promotes part reuse to keep complex models efficient and release-ready.

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Manufacturing Documentation

Generates complete, production-ready documentation so the design intent carries through from the 3D model to the manufactured part.

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Explore AI capabilities in SOLIDWORKS Design

SOLIDWORKS AI Resource Center

Explore key resources on the AI built into SOLIDWORKS Design, from videos on the strategy behind SOLIDWORKS AI models to assets that highlight the latest AI tools to take advantage of today in your design process for higher-quality outcomes in product development.

3D CAD Creativity Built on Security

Artificial intelligence innovation and data protection go hand-in-hand, making customer intellectual property our top priority. Security and privacy are the foundation for all of our SOLIDWORKS AI tools. We know that intellectual property is the most valuable asset our customers possess. Therefore, we protect user data with uncompromising, rigorous standards.

Key Protections

No training on proprietary customer data
Transparent governance controls
Secure cloud infrastructure

Our SOLIDWORKS AI models are trained only on proprietary or synthetic data, and not on client data.

Our artificial intelligence functionality operates strictly within intended parameters to uphold user trust and compliance. Our AI is engineered to respect confidentiality, keeping proprietary designs protected against unauthorized access. We adhere to the Dassault Systèmes Systèmes Trust Center’s guidelines on AI security and data privacy, which set rigorous ethical and operational standards for AI-based functionality. For the most current and comprehensive policies, refer directly to the Dassault Systèmes Trust Center to learn how we approach security, privacy, and trusted AI.

Can You Trust SOLIDWORKS AI with Your Designs?

Trust and security anchor every SOLIDWORKS AI model. We never train or test on your data without written approval. Default models learn only from data we generate or synthesize, and any future custom training stays exclusive to you, never shared. We meet ISO and SOC compliance standards, with full documentation available through the 3DS Trust Center. A clear firewall separates SOLIDWORKS-owned data from your protected IP, and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform delivers the secure foundation for your data and AI.

Measurable Engineering Value

SOLIDWORKS AI product design drives design and business impact across three pillars.

Accelerate Design and Improve Quality

Generate, evaluate, and refine multiple design concepts in the time it used to take to develop just one.

Reduce Repetitive Tasks and Focus on High-Value Work

Remove tedium and focus on what engineers enjoy: designing, exploring ideas, and solving real problems.

Knowledge Capture and Reuse

Easily reuse your team’s knowledge to avoid repeat errors and build on past experience.

Our AI strategy is built on one core conviction: the physical world runs on physics. This shapes everything, including how our AI is built, how it reasons, and how it collaborates.

Manish Kumar

CEO | SOLIDWORKS

R&D Commitment to SOLIDWORKS AI Expansion

How can you trust SOLIDWORKS is invested in the future? SOLIDWORKS R&D takes advantage of a more than $1 billion research and development investment from Dassault Systèmes. SOLIDWORKS AI is deliberately advancing, building deeper engineering intelligence with each release.

With five enhancement releases each year, here are some enhancements you can look forward to: