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3M's Groundbreaking Innovations at CES 2026

3M, a global leader in material science, showcased groundbreaking innovations at CES 2026, including their new AI-powered digital assistant, 'Ask 3M', and upgrades to the 3M Digital Materials Hub. These advancements aim to streamline the design process for engineers, enabling them to overcome challenges in a more efficient manner.

AI-Powered Assistant: Ask 3M

The introduction of 'Ask 3M' signifies a significant leap forward in how engineers approach design issues. This AI-powered tool leverages 3M's extensive portfolio of adhesives and tapes, providing tailored solutions for various design challenges. According to Holly Semerad, Chief Marketing Officer for 3M's Safety & Industrial Business Group, "At 3M, we're combining decades of material science with AI so engineers can make better decisions, faster."

By utilizing generative AI, 'Ask 3M' facilitates quick decision-making processes. This digital assistant guides users through complex aspects of design such as substrates, environmental conditions, and assembly methods, enabling them to discover suitable materials efficiently.

Enhanced 3M Digital Materials Hub

Alongside the AI assistant, 3M has expanded its Digital Materials Hub to enhance collaboration between engineers and 3M scientists. A key feature of the updated hub is the Workbench capability, which allows for direct interaction with 3M's experts and empowers engineers to validate their design concepts digitally before committing to physical prototypes.

Launched in early 2025, the updated hub now offers Optical Models that simulate the performance of 3M's optical films. This addition is particularly beneficial for engineers in automotive and consumer electronics sectors, allowing for quicker assessments of optical behaviors and material trade-offs. Feedback from initial pilot users indicates that they find the integration of 3M materials into virtual simulations to be seamless, significantly reducing their prototyping cycles.

Targeting Customer-Centric Innovation

One of the standout capabilities of the expanded hub is the ability for customers to request custom virtual materials tailored to their specific design challenges—material solutions that may not yet exist. Using 3M's decades of specialized material science knowledge, this feature promises to expedite the development of innovative solutions, thereby addressing unique customer needs.

Jason Langfield, project lead for the Digital Materials Hub, emphasized, "By drawing on 3M's deep technological and application expertise, we can deliver secure, scalable access to mechanical and optical models, while helping our customers reduce iterations and accelerate decisions."

The AI-driven solutions presented by 3M represent a significant milestone in pushing the boundaries of customer-centric product design. This innovative push is expected to reduce prototyping costs and speed up the market launch of high-quality products.

The Future of Engineering with 3M

As engineers continue to navigate complex design landscapes, tools like 'Ask 3M' and the expanded Digital Materials Hub provide the resources necessary for rapid innovation and improved efficiency. These platforms not only enhance material evaluation and selection but also redefine the engineering workflow itself, ultimately resulting in faster, more reliable outcomes for diverse industries.

3M plans to exhibit these revolutionary solutions at CES 2026, located at Booth #8505 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees are encouraged to engage with the 3M team for a deeper understanding of how these innovations can transform their design processes.

To discover more about 3M's presence at CES and schedule meetings, visit 3M CES News.

About 3M

Founded on innovation, 3M (NYSE: MMM) continues to transform industries globally by leveraging science and creativity to build customer-focused solutions. The company’s multidisciplinary team is dedicated to solving tough challenges in various sectors, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of industry advancements.