A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical system, asset, or environment designed to simulate real-world conditions in real-time.

When powered by artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins provide actionable insights, predict outcomes, and optimize operations like never before.

For this graphic, we use Hexagon survey data of 660 C-level executives from 11 countries to show which industries plan to add AI functionality to digital twins.

The Automotive Industry Leads

Hexagon’s latest report highlights the sectors leading AI-driven digital twin adoption, with impressive planned usage percentages:

The automotive industry leads in adoption, with 57% leveraging the technology to optimize production lines and improve safety testing through simulations.

In the architecture, engineering, and construction sector, which sees a 50% adoption rate, digital twins provide real-time monitoring of projects, allowing for better resource allocation and minimized delays.

Meanwhile, general manufacturing follows closely at 48%, using AI-enhanced digital twins to streamline operations, reduce costly errors, and maximize equipment efficiency, particularly in high-stakes processes.

The Key Benefits

Organizations adopting AI-powered digital twins report several transformational benefits.

One of the most significant advantages is efficiency gains, as real-time simulations help reduce operational bottlenecks and improve resource management.

Additionally, digital twins contribute to risk reduction by modeling various scenarios, allowing organizations to prevent costly errors and enhance safety measures.

Beyond operational improvements, they also play a role in sustainability, providing advanced insights that optimize energy usage and reduce waste.

The Cost of Falling Behind

Despite their potential, adoption rates vary. Industries slow to integrate AI into their digital twin strategies risk losing competitive advantages in a data-driven era.

Hexagon’s findings reveal that early adopters consistently achieve higher returns on investment, with some seeing ROI exceeding 30%.

As the AI revolution accelerates, adopting its usage in digital twins offers a powerful opportunity. For organizations looking to stay ahead, now is the perfect time to explore their potential.

The data for this visualization was sourced from The Digital Twin Industry Report, a publication by one of our data partners, Hexagon. Our data partnerships are commercial agreements that may or may not include compensation, and partners are not involved with our editorial or graphical processes in any capacity.

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