MIT researchers build an AI "copilot" for topology optimization in structural design

MIT researchers developed an AI copilot that lets engineers give feedback on regions of a structure while topology optimization is still running, instead of waiting for the final design. In demonstrations it improved manufacturability and linear buckling load by 39 percent while adding only 15 seconds to total design time. The system uses machine learning trained on synthetic human feedback data, and currently only lets users thicken or thin regions.