AI in SOLIDWORKS: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)

Nowadays, AI is everywhere. It feels like artificial intelligence is transforming every industry. But what does this mean for SOLIDWORKS users?

The Truth About AI in CAD

The truth is, AI in SOLIDWORKS doesn’t include a “magic design button” that does all your work for you. Instead, it’s about helping you work smarter by automating repetitive low-value tasks, speeding up tedious processes, and providing useful suggestions to ultimately free you up to focus on the high-impact portions of design.

Think of AI in SOLIDWORKS as your co-pilot, not your auto-pilot. A human touch is still essential for decision-making, a true understanding of a project and its needs, and creativity. AI just helps accelerate our path to a meaningful final product. Like any CAD tool, utilizing AI in SOLIDWORKS effectively takes time and practice. At GoEngineer, our goal is to help you cut through the hype and understand how AI really fits into your SOLIDWORKS workflow.

Assistive vs Generative AI

Generally, there are two main types of AI: Assistive and Generative.

1. Assistive AI helps by analyzing data to guide decisions, subtly enhance workflows, and reduce repetitive actions without creating new content. Low computational demands make it lightweight and easy to run. Assistive AI is pretty straightforward and has been around a while.
2. Generative AI actually produces a discrete output (for example, images, code, videos, etc). While it is flashier and more creative, it is resource-intensive, less reliable, and introduces more risk. Generative AI is fairly new.

What AI in SOLIDWORKS Actually Looks Like

If you’ve been using SOLIDWORKS for a while, chances are you’ve already used many of its advanced, efficiency-driving tools like SOLIDWORKS Xperts and Assembly Tools. Newer to SOLIDWORKS are a variety of assistive and generative AI tools to guide and automate workflows, many of which are now channeled through chat-prompted AI virtual companions.

Xpert Tools

Xpert tools help novices work like experts by indentifying problems and guiding you through solutions:

SketchXpert resolves sketch conflicts.



FeatureXpert reorders features to make them solvable.  

DraftXpert simplifies creating/editing neutral plane drafts.

FilletXpert manages multiple fillets and size adjustments.

MateXpert fixes assembly mate conflicts.

DimXpert automates GD&T dimensioning for MBD and drawings.

Assembly Tools

Assembly tools automate assembly tasks by recognizing geometry and applying logical mates or inserting parts:

Auto Repair Mates automatically repairs missing mate references to resolve mate errors caused by components getting replaced.

SmartMates auto-applies logical mates during drag-and-drop in place (when holding ALT).

Smart Fasteners inserts and mates suitable fasteners from the Toolbox based on hole geometry.

Smart Components are configured components that automatically bring in other associated components and features when inserted.

AI in SOLIDWORKS Design

SOLIDWORKS 2025 introduced some new and exciting AI functionality. In SOLIDWORKS 2026, we continue to see enhancements to these existing tools and the introduction of many more AI tools.

With Fastener Recognition, AI identifies nuts, bolts, and washers from non-Toolbox parts and applies appropriate SmartMates when inserted.

Command Predictor (Beta) anticipates your next SOLIDWORKS command based on your current session and provides relevant tool shortcuts.

Contextual Assistant (Beta) shares in-context tips and recommendations to work more efficiently.

Picture to Sketch (Beta) converts sketch pictures to sketch entities using AI.
 

AI in SOLIDWORKS Design with Cloud Connection

AURA, LEO, and MARIE are Virtual Companions (Beta), or AI assistants, who power the following AI solutions in SOLIDWORKS and will remain the foundation for the next generation of AI-driven functionality. AURA orchestrates knowledge and insight, LEO executes commands for troubleshooting and assisting with design and simulation, and MARIE (coming soon) will provide scientific and materials rationale to the design process.

SOLIDWORKS Insight (Beta) answers SOLIDWORKS questions based on vetted SOLIDWORKS documentation unlike public AI assistants. 

What's Wrong (Beta) offers AI-guided root cause analysis for clear guidance on how to resolve errors.

Assembly Structure Design (Beta) builds an assembly structure with empty files to start from, where the structure can be iterated until you’re ready to generate the SOLIDWORKS assembly and part files.

Drawing Creation (Beta) starts drawings faster with AI by working with the design virtual companion, LEO, to define the template, specifications, and standards, then preview and refine the drawing before it’s created. Generated drawings are a starting point and will require review and further editing. 

AI in Cloud-Based SOLIDWORKS xDesign

The Design Assistant delivers in-context suggestions and automation for sketches, selections, and mates. While these tools are specific to the cloud-based SOLIDWORKS xDesign and not SOLIDWORKS Design, they provide an idea of other AI capabilities that exist in the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem.

Selection Helper uses AI to suggest which edges, faces, or bodies to select next based on design intent.

Sketch Helper uses AI to analyze sketch entities and suggest additional instances, complete with dimensions and relations.

Mate Helper uses AI when inserting components into an assembly to suggest locations for replication.

BREP to Parametric CAD (Beta) converts imported, history-less CAD to editable, parametric CAD.

Common Concerns

Security & Connectivity: Some AI tools run locally in SOLIDWORKS, while others require cloud access (through 3DEXPERIENCE) due to their reliance on generative AI. Generative AI, which is based on neural networks, is more computationally intensive, as it involves creating content rather than just analyzing data. The distinction between local and cloud-based tools may matter if ITAR (or similar) compliance is required.

Cost & Access: All SOLIDWORKS Xperts, Assembly tools, Fastener Recognition, and Command Predictor, Contextual Assistants, and Picture to Sketch run locally. Meanwhile, the virtual companions (AURA, LEO, and MARIE) will require access to 3DEXPERIENCE, which comes with each new SOLIDWORKS license purchased through GoEngineer.

Usage & Development: Many of the AI tools in SOLIDWORKS are in beta. While they are available to use, it is important to keep in mind that they are still undergoing development. As a result, their capabilities and associated documentation may be limited. We look forward to watching these tools mature and become part of day-to-day workflows.

Training & Adoption: If you’re looking for a deeper understanding of how to use some of these tools, or want to become more efficient within SOLIDWORKS in general, GoEngineer provides Application Mentoring sessions, training courses, and personalized guidance to help your team take full advantage of the features available.

Try It Now: Drawing Creation (beta)

You can try out Drawing Creation (Beta) for yourself. You’ll need to be updated to the latest version of SOLIDWORKS 2026 and have access to your 3DEXPERIENCE platform from SOLIDWORKS first.

• Go to the SOLIDWORKS Labs (Beta) tab and select Drawing Creation Beta.
• Chat with LEO to set your parameters and preview, generate, and open your drawing.

Now, much of the setup is already done for you, saving you valuable time and giving you a solid starting point for your drawing.

The Future of AI in SOLIDWORKS

What’s ahead is even more exciting. With the introduction of SOLIDWORKS AI virtual companions, we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Here's what's coming: 

• Assembly performance analysis
• Design inspection and modification
• Picture to mesh
• Text to CAD + simulation workflows

Eventually, the new challenge will be in engineering prompts for quality design. But let’s be clear, CAD design will never be fully automated. While AI may be able to automate some of the setup and design process, it will never replace the knowledge, experience, and creativity of real engineers, but rather, support engineers by improving productivity.

Relying on AI alone for design isn’t just impractical, it’s dangerous. Instead of saving time, it could introduce massive amounts of rework, compliance failures, and, eventually, product recalls. At the end of the day, the responsibility and liability fall on the professionals. What AI can do is handle the tedious setup, offer useful shortcuts, and give engineers a head start.

Start Exploring

If you’re running the latest version of SOLIDWORKS, and are connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you already have access to these AI tools.

To stay on the cutting edge:

1. Update to the newest version and latest service pack.
2. Enable connection the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform.
3. Keep an eye on beta tool updates throughout the year.
4. Chat with us to get the most from what’s available.

AI in SOLIDWORKS is here to help you as designers and engineers, not replace you. By automating tedious, routine work, it lets you focus on the bigger picture design challenges.

Want to learn more about AI in SOLIDWORKS or any SOLIDWORKS-related solutions? Contact GoEngineer for more information, to schedule a demo, or to book training.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in October 2025 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Related Articles

SOLIDWORKS Materials in Multibody Parts

How to Reorder SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal Bends

How to Reorder SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal Bends

KeyShot SOLIDWORKS Add-In Installation & Setup

SOLIDWORKS STEP Export: AP203 vs AP214

VIEW ALL ARTICLES