3M Unveils AI Assistant and Digital Hub Innovations
At CES 2026, 3M is set to showcase groundbreaking technology that is transforming the way engineering and design challenges are tackled. The company is excited to introduce Ask 3M, a new AI-powered digital assistant designed to facilitate innovative solutions using 3M's extensive range of adhesives and tapes.
Enhancing Customer-Centric Innovation
Alongside Ask 3M, 3M is launching an enhanced version of its 3M Digital Materials Hub. This platform is designed to foster direct collaboration between customers and 3M's research teams. The hub's Workbench feature allows users to engage in virtual materials sampling, generating solutions that may not have existed before.
Accelerating Design Processes
These innovations leverage advanced artificial intelligence and modeling techniques, allowing engineers to quickly design and validate materials digitally prior to investing in physical prototypes. Holly Semerad, the CMO for 3M's Safety & Industrial Business Group, stated, "We’re merging decades of material science expertise with AI, enabling engineers to make informed decisions more swiftly. With Ask 3M and the Digital Materials Hub, we empower customers to navigate from design challenges to viable solutions in mere minutes."
Strategic Collaborations for Enhanced Capability
In the pilot phase, Ask 3M is aimed primarily at engineers focused on bonding design challenges within 3M’s Safety & Industrial sector. Utilizing Amazon Web Services’ robust AI capabilities, including Amazon Bedrock, the AI assistant guides users through various factors such as substrates, environmental conditions, and assembly methods, speeding up the transition from concept to market-ready products.
Powerful Tools for Rapid Prototyping
The expanded Digital Materials Hub now includes Optical Models to exemplify the performance capabilities of 3M optical films. This feature will assist engineers in automotive, consumer electronics, and advanced manufacturing sectors to evaluate optical performance and material trade-offs early in the design process. In trials with selected clients, reports indicated that the tool enabled easy integration of 3M materials into virtual simulations, expediting design and prototyping phases.
Meeting Unique Design Needs
A particularly noteworthy feature of the enhanced platform is its ability to fulfill requests for custom virtual materials. This ingenuity allows customers to create solutions tailored to their unique challenges, bolstered by 3M's extensive history in materials science and engineering. This positions 3M to not only meet customer needs but to do so with a speed that was previously unattainable.
Jason Langfield, the project lead for the 3M Digital Materials Hub, remarked, "These platforms are revolutionizing how engineers find, assess, and simulate materials. By tapping into our profound technological and application expertise, we provide secure and scalable access to a broad spectrum of models and bespoke solutions, enabling quicker decisions and shorter development timelines."
3M's Presence at CES 2026
3M will exhibit these innovative solutions at CES 2026, located at Booth #8505 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The showcase will highlight how these digital advancements can ease the design and engineering journey for various industries.
3M remains committed to driving transformation across multiple sectors through the application of science and cutting-edge technology. The company's focus on crafting innovative customer-centric solutions continues to position it at the forefront of industry advancements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ask 3M?
Ask 3M is an AI-powered digital assistant designed to help engineers and customers solve design challenges with 3M's adhesives and tapes.
What is the 3M Digital Materials Hub?
The 3M Digital Materials Hub is a platform that facilitates collaboration between customers and 3M scientists, enabling virtual materials sampling and bespoke solutions.
How does the new AI technology accelerate innovation?
The combination of Ask 3M and the Digital Materials Hub allows designers to quickly validate and simulate materials digitally, reducing the time to market.
Who can benefit from these innovations?
Engineers and designers across numerous industries, including automotive and electronics, can take advantage of these new tools to enhance their workflows.
Where can I find 3M's exhibition at CES 2026?
3M's exhibition will be located at Booth #8505 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
