SolidWorks at 30: Embracing AI, Virtual Twins, and the Future of Design

Three decades ago, SolidWorks revolutionized 3D design by making high-quality CAD software accessible to engineers and innovators worldwide. This week, at 3D Experience World in Houston, the company behind the pioneering platform, Dassault Systèmes, marked its 30th anniversary with a bold vision for the future—one that hinges on artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation.

The event’s opening session, led by senior executives of Dassault Systèmes and SolidWorks, underscored how the once-niche design software has evolved into a comprehensive platform, now integrating AI-driven automation, digital twins, and advanced manufacturing solutions. The gathering brought together 4,000 attendees in Houston and thousands more online, signaling the deepening importance of AI and cloud-based collaboration in engineering and manufacturing.

A New Era for SolidWorks

Gian Paolo Bassi, Senior Vice President of Mainstream Innovation at Dassault Systèmes, took the stage to emphasize SolidWorks’ continued evolution. Bassi, an industry veteran and a long-time champion of democratizing engineering technology, outlined the company’s roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence and cloud collaboration into everyday design workflows.

“SolidWorks has always been about accessibility—putting powerful tools into the hands of designers, engineers, and students worldwide. Today, we take that commitment further with AI-powered assistance, generative design, and real-time collaboration,” Bassi said.

He highlighted the transformative impact of digital twins—highly accurate, real-time virtual representations of physical products—that are poised to redefine product design and manufacturing. Bassi stressed that digital twins are not merely about visualization but about enabling predictive maintenance, real-time performance tracking, and automated optimizations that improve product lifecycles.

“We are not just talking about designing in 3D anymore,” Bassi noted. “We are talking about creating intelligent, data-driven systems that help companies innovate faster, reduce costs, and bring products to market more efficiently.”

Bassi also acknowledged the growing importance of sustainability, citing how AI-powered SolidWorks tools now help companies make smarter material choices, reduce waste, and optimize energy consumption. “Sustainability is no longer a choice—it is a necessity,” he stated. “With AI-driven insights, engineers can now build products that are not only innovative but also environmentally responsible.”

AI, Digital Twins, and the Power of Virtual Companions

Among the most striking announcements was Aura, an AI-powered virtual companion that Dassault Systèmes says will assist engineers and manufacturers by automating complex workflows, analyzing design efficiencies, and safeguarding intellectual property. The company stressed that AI will not replace human engineers but rather enhance their decision-making capabilities and efficiency.

“Aura will learn from you, teach you, and help optimize your work,” said Manish Kumar, CEO of SolidWorks. “With generative AI and automation, we’re unlocking a future where engineers can focus more on creativity and innovation, rather than repetitive tasks.”

Manish Kumar, taking center stage, expanded on the company’s efforts to push SolidWorks beyond traditional CAD applications and into a fully integrated digital manufacturing and engineering platform. He described how SolidWorks is embracing cloud-based collaboration, allowing engineers to access their designs anywhere while ensuring security and seamless integration with supply chain partners.

A key component of Kumar’s presentation was SolidWorks’ deepened focus on AI-powered workflows. He explained how the company is embedding AI into all aspects of the design-to-manufacturing pipeline, enabling predictive modeling, generative design, and real-time optimization of engineering workflows. “We are moving toward an era where AI-powered virtual assistants will proactively suggest design improvements, validate structural integrity, and even recommend materials based on sustainability and cost-effectiveness,” Kumar said.

To illustrate the power of AI-driven automation, Kumar introduced new capabilities within the SolidWorks ecosystem, including a generative design tool that leverages machine learning to generate multiple design iterations based on user-defined constraints. This allows engineers to explore thousands of possibilities within seconds, significantly reducing the time spent on manual modifications. He also demonstrated how AI-powered real-time simulation can instantly assess mechanical performance, eliminating the need for extensive trial and error.

Kumar also unveiled new cloud-native SolidWorks collaboration tools, designed to support real-time co-engineering across distributed teams. “We understand that in today’s world, engineering is no longer done in isolation. Teams are global, supply chains are interconnected, and speed to market is critical. That’s why we are making SolidWorks more collaborative than ever before,” he emphasized.

One of the most ambitious announcements was SolidWorks’ vision for an AI-powered Digital Twin ecosystem. Kumar explained that digital twins—virtual representations of physical assets—will allow companies to monitor products in real time, predict maintenance needs, and optimize manufacturing processes with unprecedented accuracy. “Imagine a world where a factory floor can self-optimize based on real-time data, or where a medical implant can send feedback directly to a doctor. That is the future we are building with Digital Twins,” he said.

Kumar’s presentation also introduced the new Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) system, designed to streamline the order-to-production cycle by automating product configuration and pricing for manufacturers. He noted that this will be a game-changer for companies that deal with complex, customizable products, allowing them to generate accurate quotes in minutes rather than days.

Robotics, Startups, and the Expanding SolidWorks Ecosystem

The keynote also featured Spot, the four-legged robot from Boston Dynamics, which strutted across the stage, showcasing the cutting-edge applications of SolidWorks in robotics design.

“Spot has been deployed in everything from industrial inspections to archaeological explorations,” noted Bassi, citing its use in assessing Hurricane Fiona’s damage in Puerto Rico and surveying ancient ruins in Pompeii.

Spot’s creator, Mark Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics and Executive Director of the AI Institute, took the stage to discuss how AI is changing robotics. His talk explored how robots like Atlas, a humanoid designed for factory work, are learning complex human tasks through reinforcement learning and generative AI.

Meanwhile, a panel discussion featuring ColdSnap, Bullwark Mobility, and OneWheel—three startups leveraging SolidWorks to bring new consumer and industrial products to market—highlighted how the SolidWorks for Startups program is empowering new businesses. Each of these companies provided insight into how SolidWorks’ tools and capabilities have accelerated their product development and manufacturing processes.

Matt Fonte, founder of ColdSnap, shared how his team leveraged SolidWorks’ advanced simulation tools to refine the company’s on-demand frozen treat machine. The device, likened to a Keurig for ice cream, allows consumers to make frozen desserts in minutes without the need for long freezing times or bulky refrigeration units. Fonte explained how SolidWorks’ computational fluid dynamics modeling has helped optimize the machine’s freezing process, reducing energy consumption while maintaining high-quality output. “We went from prototype to production much faster than we could have imagined, thanks to the precision and flexibility that SolidWorks provided us,” Fonte remarked.

Dr. Shri Harsha, CEO of Bullwark Mobility, spoke about his company’s mission to transform agriculture in India by making electric tractors accessible and affordable. He emphasized how SolidWorks’ cloud-based platform enabled his team to collaborate across different locations seamlessly. “We needed an efficient way to test and iterate quickly, and SolidWorks’ integrated design and simulation environment allowed us to optimize our designs in real time, reducing development costs and accelerating our time to market,” Harsha said.

Kyle Doerksen, founder of OneWheel, described how SolidWorks has been instrumental in designing and manufacturing the company’s self-balancing electric skateboard. He recounted his early days at Stanford, where he first started experimenting with SolidWorks to develop prototypes, and how the software has continued to play a central role in refining OneWheel’s production process. “From designing the initial frame to ensuring the board’s ruggedness and responsiveness, SolidWorks has allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in electric mobility,” Doerksen explained.

Each of these founders credited SolidWorks’ ecosystem for not only providing the necessary tools but also fostering a community of innovators who can learn from one another and push their industries forward.

The Road Ahead

With an eye on the future, SolidWorks is set to introduce a new Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solution this summer, designed to help manufacturers deliver faster, more precise quotes for highly configurable products. This is part of a broader strategy to streamline business operations alongside technical design.

“We are no longer just talking about CAD,” said Daloz. “We are talking about enabling an entire ecosystem that helps businesses stay competitive in an AI-driven world.”

As the conference continues throughout the week, executives promise deeper dives into these innovations, with sessions focused on AI-assisted engineering, real-time collaboration, and the evolving role of digital twins.

After 30 years, SolidWorks has come a long way from its early days as a tool for 3D modeling. The message from Houston was clear: The next decade will belong to those who can seamlessly blend human ingenuity with the power of AI and automation.

Tags: AI-driven design, automation, cloud collaboration, digital twins, generative design, SolidWorks

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