3M to debut AI-powered assistant ‘Ask 3M’ and expanded 3M Digital Materials Hub at CES 2026

News provided by 3M Company
Dec 29, 2025, 11:17 ET

New generative tool and capabilities can accelerate customer-centric innovation, enable creation of previously nonexistent materials

St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 29, 2025 — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced two digital innovations that will accelerate customer design workflows:

• Ask 3M, a new AI-powered digital assistant that helps customers find solutions to design challenges using 3M’s vast portfolio of adhesives and tapes.
• An expanded 3M Digital Materials Hub, which enables direct collaboration with 3M scientists through the Workbench feature and powers virtual materials sampling for generative solutions that don’t yet exist.

These tools leverage generative AI, advanced modeling and simulation-ready data cards to empower users to design and digitally validate materials before investing in physical prototypes. Engineers can more quickly iterate concept, selection and simulation—reducing prototyping cycles and cost.

“At 3M, we’re combining decades of material science with AI so engineers can make better decisions, faster,” said Holly Semerad, chief marketing officer for 3M’s Safety & Industrial Business Group. “Together, Ask 3M and the 3M Digital Materials Hub allow customers of varying scope and scale to move from design challenge to solution concept then digital selection and simulation in minutes. We can further accelerate the testing timeframe with small quantity purchase options for final and confident prototyping.”

At launch, Ask 3M will be piloted with engineers solving bonding design challenges that involve tapes and adhesives—largely within 3M’s Safety & Industrial Business Group. Built using Amazon Web Services’ secure and scalable AI capabilities, including Amazon Bedrock and AgentCore, Ask 3M guides users through substrates, environmental conditions, assembly methods and performance targets to recommend suitable options and speed problem-to-product-fit workflows.

The expanded 3M Digital Materials Hub, which launched in early 2025, now includes Optical Models that represent 3M optical film performance for use in common simulation environments. Engineers in automotive, consumer electronics and advanced manufacturing can quickly assess optical behaviors and material tradeoffs earlier in the design process, reducing iterations and enabling faster decision-making. In pilot tests, engineers reported the tool enabled seamless integration of 3M materials into virtual simulations, accelerating prototyping and design.

The platform also enables customers to request bespoke virtual materials—solutions tailored to specific design challenges that do not yet exist. By drawing on 3M’s material science and engineering expertise, the company can accelerate development and delivery of these unique solutions.

“With these platforms, 3M is redefining how engineers discover, evaluate and simulate materials,” said Jason Langfield, 3M Digital Materials Hub project lead. “By drawing on 3M’s deep technological and application expertise, we can deliver secure, scalable access to mechanical models, optical models and virtual materials, while helping our customers reduce iterations, accelerate decisions, and bring better solutions to market faster.”

3M will showcase these solutions at CES 2026 at Booth #8505 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. To learn more or to schedule a meeting at CES, please email [email protected].

For more information on 3M’s presence at CES, visit https://news.3m.com/CES.

About 3M

3M (NYSE: MMM) is focused on transforming industries around the world by applying science and creating innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our multidisciplinary teams work to solve tough customer problems by leveraging diverse technology platforms, differentiated capabilities, global footprint and operational excellence. Discover how 3M is shaping the future at 3M.com/news.

Source: 3M Company