In a world where AI dominates headlines and every tech company seems to be in an arms race to integrate artificial intelligence into their products, it’s important to separate the practical from the promotional. As designers and engineers, we need solutions that actually improve workflows today — not just promises about the future.
SOLIDWORKS has had automation and “AI lite” assistance for years. From subtle design suggestions to automated workflows, intelligent technology has been working behind the scenes to make your job easier. Now it’s stepping into the spotlight.
In the D2M session recording Beyond the Hype: What’s New with AI in Design, Hawk Ridge Systems explores how AI, assistants, and automation are transforming SOLIDWORKS, from accelerating everyday design tasks to introducing smarter, more intuitive tools that adapt to how you work.
Quick Guide to AURA AI
Selective Filtering: Opening Only What You Need
One of the most time-consuming challenges when working with large assemblies is simply opening them. We’ve all experienced that moment of waiting (sometimes for 10+ minutes) as SOLIDWORKS loads every component of a complex assembly when you only need to work with a small section.
The new selective filtering feature solves this problem. With it, you can:
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- Preview your assembly structure through a browser interface
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- Select only the specific components you need
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- Create and save custom filters for different work scenarios
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- Open just those selected components in SOLIDWORKS
It maintains all assembly references without breaking anything. The best application of this new feature comes when working with factory layouts or large machinery assemblies. You can isolate just the mounting points or connection areas you need to work with, saving significant time and computing resources.
Command Predictor
The Command Predictor learns your design actions and anticipates which commands you’ll likely need next then it displays them prominently in your ribbon interface.
The Command Predictor applies machine learning to understand context. For example, after creating a sketch, it intelligently offers extrude options. When working on an assembly, it suggests appropriate mate commands. The 2026 release further enhances this functionality with integrated search capabilities, allowing you to quickly find any command not automatically presented.
While the tool might feel different for experienced users who have developed muscle memory for navigating SOLIDWORKS’ traditional interface, it quickly proves its worth by reducing the constant tab-switching and menu-hunting that interrupts creative flow. As you use the Command Predictor, it gets smarter, learning your specific design patterns and preferences.
Automatic Drawings
Automatically generate standard orthographic views, dimensions, and hole callouts to create consistent, detailed drawings in a fraction of the time. Read more tips on how to get the most out of SOLIDWORKS Drawings.
Automated Hardware Mates
This feature intelligently recognizes and connects components without pre-defined mate references. It detects hole patterns, sizes standard hardware, and applies the correct mates automatically, saving hours on repetitive assembly setup.
AURA – The SOLIDWORKS Design Assistant
AURA is your built-in AI assistant that connects you to a world of reliable answers securely. It helps you find commands, understand workflows, and access trusted information directly within SOLIDWORKS. Unlike public AI systems, AURA is homegrown and intentionally limited to factual data pulled from SOLIDWORKS documentation and user communities. Read more about AURA AI in SOLIDWORKS here.
The Future of AI in Design
These features represent just the beginning of AI integration in SOLIDWORKS. As technologies like automated hardware mates and automatic drawing generation continue to evolve, we’ll see AI handling increasingly complex aspects of the design process.
What makes these current implementations valuable isn’t flashy generative capabilities, but rather how they quietly remove friction from everyday tasks. By understanding context, anticipating needs, and drawing from reliable sources, these tools augment rather than replace the designer’s expertise.
The best AI in design isn’t about replacing human creativity — it’s about removing the tedious obstacles that stand between your vision and its realization. AURA isn’t a general AI. It is your SOLIDWORKS assistant designed to enhance productivity while keeping your intellectual property secure.
AURA Best Practices Guide from Our Engineering Team
Want to learn more about leveraging AI in SOLIDWORKS? To help you get the most out of AURA, download the AURA Best Practices Guide. This quick reference explains how to ask better questions, interpret AURA’s responses, and understand how its verified sources ensure both accuracy and data protection.
