He said he hopes the products and platforms will drive greater standardization and integration, enabling convergence between sectors. As an example, he cited Bentley’s concept that all products can share and leverage data in one place, which Bentley calls iTwin, a cloud-based information container. The more this information is compiled and kept up-to-date, the more disciplines, experts and sectors can participate and learn from each other, and the more transparent it will be, he argued.
Co-pilots, co-innovation, and the next step for water
Throughout the event, Bentley introduced a growing list of AI-enabled applications, including OpenSite+, OpenUtilities Substation+, and SYNCHRO+. All of these are connected to Bentley Infrastructure Cloud. Valois described these as early examples of how generation tools are being incorporated into engineering workflows.
AI enables small businesses to think like startups and move faster to compete with larger organizations.
He recalls that Bentley was the first to use large language models in engineering through OpenSite+, which the company showed off at a conference the previous year. He said it was initially seen as a potentially useful but limited tool, but it has become more influential than expected. This experience led to the creation of Bentley Copilot, a shared AI component that can be applied across applications. Valois emphasized that context remains important and that each version is specialized using a technique known as search expansion generation to ensure the model remains within the appropriate technical range. For Slocum, the primary value of these co-pilots is that they can lighten his day-to-day workload. Citing his experience as a civil engineer and the repetitive nature of labeling, file searching, and document management, he argued that co-pilot increases user productivity and helps users do more with less, especially in situations of labor shortages. He cited a statement he had heard that AI would not replace humans, but rather that people who use AI would replace people who do not use AI, and suggested that there is some truth to that view. In his view, AI will enable small businesses to move more quickly with a startup-like mentality, allowing them to compete with much larger organizations, while also helping co-pilots remove tedious tasks and freeing engineers to focus on value-added work.
For the water sector, interviews and discussions in Amsterdam suggest that the next stage will combine more advanced digital twins, AI-driven analytics, and enhanced communication and governance. As Correia pointed out, emerging technologies such as AI will have a major impact, but the field is still in the early stages of understanding its full potential. She emphasized that while the opportunities are great, technology alone is not enough. Real progress will depend on people who understand both the critical value of water and the responsibility to manage it, and who can help drive the cultural changes needed to embrace water.
