Festo has introduced an AI-powered Virtual Assistant to help automation engineers and maintenance teams access technical answers quickly and minimise downtime. The online tool is designed specifically for industrial automation applications and provides context-related responses in seconds, helping users move faster from fault identification to resolution.

Unlike general AI systems, the Virtual Assistant works only on verified Festo data sources, including datasheets, manuals, technical documents and engineering tools. It supports fault diagnosis, component selection, technical standards, product data retrieval, sizing, simulation and machine troubleshooting.

Available 24/7, the tool supports continuous production environments across shifts, including nights and weekends. Users can describe technical issues in natural language, with no additional training required. Festo said user queries remain within its secure infrastructure and comply with data privacy regulations, including the EU AI Act.

Javier Güell, Festo Sales AI Solutions, said the assistant helps engineers reduce time spent searching for information and focus on designing solutions, keeping systems running and optimising performance.