The update centres on the expansion of NI Nigel AI, alongside enhancements to the NI platform to create a more integrated, AI-ready test automation environment.
The company said the latest development includes prompt-based code generation within the NI LabVIEW+ Suite, aimed at simplifying programming tasks for engineers. The broader initiative will see Nigel AI integrated across key software tools, including NI FlexLogger, NI InstrumentStudio, NI TestStand and NI SystemLink, providing support throughout the entire test lifecycle.
These updates, expected to be available later in 2026, are intended to assist industries such as aerospace, semiconductors and transportation, where testing processes must meet stringent reliability and safety standards. By embedding AI into existing workflows, Emerson aims to help engineering teams accelerate product development without compromising accuracy.
Nigel AI has been developed specifically for test engineering environments, where precision and repeatability are critical. The expanded functionality is expected to offer context-aware guidance at different stages of testing, from initial development and reuse of code to validation and final deployment.
“The NI platform has evolved through every major shift in technology, continually improving how test engineers reach their goals,” said Ritu Favre, president of Emerson’s test and measurement business. “As AI reshapes product development, it’s this adaptability that allows our AI-ready platform to stand out. The real strength of the NI platform isn’t any single capability; it’s in the integration of hardware, software, data and ecosystem that engineers can rely on as technology continues to evolve.”
Emerson said the integration of AI into its platform is designed to address increasing complexity in modern testing environments, where systems often involve large volumes of data and require high levels of automation. Internally, the company reported that engineers using Nigel AI were able to reduce test development and troubleshooting times from days or hours to minutes.
Alongside software updates, the NI platform continues to combine modular hardware with open software architecture and a shared data framework. This approach is intended to support scalable testing operations, enabling teams to capture, manage and reuse measurement data more effectively across different projects and locations.
At the hardware level, the platform is designed to balance compact size, low power consumption and high configurability, while supporting diverse signal types and precise timing requirements. The data framework also enables improved collaboration and long-term optimisation through analytics and shared insights.
The expansion reflects broader industry trends towards incorporating artificial intelligence into engineering tools, particularly as testing demands grow alongside advances in areas such as autonomous systems, advanced electronics and high-performance computing. Emerson said its AI-ready platform is intended to evolve with these demands, allowing engineers to integrate new technologies into their workflows over time.