Thousands of the SolidWorks faithful gathered in Houston for 3DExperience World 2026 (Feb. 1-4), an annual gathering of users of the Dassault Systèmes’ design software platform from around the globe. Attendees had their choice of a record 270 hours of content in various tracks, but it was in the event’s morning general sessions where the rapidly evolving world of 3D design, digital twins—and the impact of AI—were put into context.
“AI is just a multiplier, you are the value,” began Manish Kumar, SolidWorks CEO and R&D vice president for Dassault. He went on to demonstrate just how far the company had already come in proving the value that AI could bring to its design suite.
For starters, he projected a live SolidWorks desktop that included a 2D sketch of a mechanical component. He then asked that the software convert that sketch into a fully parametric 3D model based on finite-element analysis—which the software did in a matter of seconds. “We’re not just imagining the future; we’re already building it,” he explained.
AI Companions Scheduled for Summer Release
Importantly, these capabilities aren’t just in the development phase but are now a reality and scheduled for release mid-year, Kumar said. In fact, the conversion of that 2D sketch into a 3D parametric model is the capability of Aura—one of three AI companions—which specializes in exploring ideas based on previous experience.
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Other companions due for release this summer include Leo, the engineer and builder, which might be called on to validate a design proposed by Aura. Rounding out the three initial companions is Marie, the scientist and researcher, with roots in the fundamentals of chemistry and physics.
“We are in the start-up phase of AI,” Kumar continued. Like fire, which was first harnessed to keep people warm, many other purposes were quickly discovered. “Similarly, AI is not just a tool, but a source of innovation that will lead to developments we’ve not yet imagined.”
SolidWorks Moves to the Cloud
Bound up in the new AI capabilities of the SolidWorks platform is the need to leverage the cloud-based computing power required to execute them. And with that has come the ability to purchase and operate SolidWorks entirely online.
This cloud-based implementation is fully secure, provides a smoother navigation experience and dramatically reduces update time from as much as 45 min. to only 90 sec., according to Morgan Zimmermann, 3DExperience CEO. “You’re on your schedule now,” he said. “It’s a simpler buy, shorter updates and streamlined navigation.”
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“The world is not made of words, but of molecules, atoms and energy,” added Pascal Daloz, CEO, Dassault Systèmes, noting a key difference between the generative AI solutions trained on the internet and physical AI solutions grounded in data and reality.
“The 20th century was about using and producing objects; the 21st Century is about producing knowledge and know-how,” he said. “Real-world AI is grounded in industry, engineering and science.”
A Deeper Partnership with NVIDIA
A final highlight from the 3DExperience mainstage was the appearance of Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, for a discussion with Daloz and a partnership announcement. The pair touched on their personal 25-year relationship and the convergent, complementary paths of their two organizations.
“The idea of AI, simulation and emulation coming together is incredibly powerful,” said Huang. “AI predicting physics is within our grasp. It will be like a dog catching a ball—complex, but real-time and intuitive.”
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“We are entering an era where artificial intelligence does not just predict or generate but understands the real world,” added Daloz. “When AI is grounded in science, physics and validated industrial knowledge, it becomes a force multiplier for human ingenuity.”
"Physical AI is the next frontier of artificial intelligence, grounded in the laws of the physical world,” said Huang. “Together with Dassault Systèmes, we’re uniting decades of industrial leadership with NVIDIA’s AI and Omniverse platforms to transform how millions of researchers, designers and engineers build the world’s largest industries.”
