GenAI Comes to Infrastructure With Emerson’s Ovation Advisor

Running a power plant or water facility is no longer just about keeping the lights on or taps flowing; it’s about doing it smarter, faster, and with fewer hands on deck. With massive streams of operational data flowing through digital systems, the real challenge is making that data work harder for us.

Emerson’s Ovation Virtual Advisor brings GenAI to the power and water industries, turning real-time data into smarter, faster operational decisions. Image used courtesy of Adobe Stock

Now, Emerson is addressing that challenge with a new GenAI-powered tool designed specifically for these industries. The newly launched Ovation Virtual Advisor, part of the Ovation 4.0 Automation Platform, is the first generative AI assistant embedded into an industrial automation system for the power and water sectors. It delivers real-time support and operational insights using localized AI models, helping users make faster, more informed decisions without compromising security or control reliability.

A Human-Like Assistant for Complex Operations

Unlike general-purpose AI tools, the Ovation Virtual Advisor is purpose-built for industrial environments. Operators interact with the system through natural language, accessing documentation, diagnosing issues, and receiving system guidance as if talking to an experienced coworker. This allows maintenance teams and control room staff to quickly respond to problems and uncover process optimizations that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Ovation Virtual Advisor gives power and water operators secure, on-site AI assistance for troubleshooting, documentation, and system optimization. Image used courtesy of Emerson

The advisor uses AI models, which have been trained on Emerson’s own system data and can be refined by using plant-specific information and feedback. These models run locally on secure hardware, meaning no internet access is required for functionality, especially in industries with strict cybersecurity requirements.

Simplifying Maintenance and Optimization Tasks

The Ovation Virtual Advisor was designed to actively support plant reliability. It automates many routine tasks, such as flagging potential equipment issues, suggesting preventative maintenance actions, and helping staff prioritize troubleshooting steps. Over time, it will even learn from interactions and historical data to improve guidance and system support.

This intelligent automation minimizes unplanned downtime while boosting overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), particularly in facilities with aging infrastructure. Emerson’s AI framework can also be applied to digital twins and plant prognostics within the broader Ovation suite, making it easier to validate changes and train new staff without impacting live operations.

Built for Safe, Scalable Industrial Use

Because it's embedded within the Ovation 4.0 platform, the Virtual Advisor is fully integrated with Emerson’s control system tools, remote operations suite, and digital twin environments. It’s designed to be scalable, supporting new builds and upgrades to existing systems.

Emerson emphasizes data security by ensuring all AI models remain local, avoiding the risk of cloud data exposure. Operators can customize these models using internal knowledge and real-world performance data, which will create a specialized virtual assistant that aligns with each facility’s unique requirements.
With the introduction of the Ovation Virtual Advisor, Emerson is moving toward human-centered automation for power and water operators. By combining GenAI capabilities with deep industry expertise and secure design, the platform empowers teams to work more efficiently, spot issues sooner, and get more value from their data. As the demands on critical infrastructure continue to rise, tools like this will play a key role in delivering reliable, sustainable operations for years to come.