MathWorks has announced Release 2026a (R2026a) of its MATLAB and Simulink product families, introducing a new set of AI-powered copilots aimed at transforming embedded systems development. The update brings Simulink Copilot and Polyspace Copilot into the engineering workflow, helping teams improve productivity while maintaining rigor, traceability and reliability.
With this release, MathWorks is embedding generative AI directly into tools already used by engineers, enabling faster design, early issue detection and more efficient movement from development to production. Alongside this, the company is also enabling integration with agentic workflows through the MATLAB MCP Core Server and MATLAB Agentic Toolkit.
Simulink Copilot is designed to support Model-Based Design by offering contextual guidance based on existing models and engineering processes. It can explain model behaviour, answer queries, identify relevant components and suggest next steps, helping engineers accelerate design cycles.
Polyspace Copilot, on the other hand, enhances software code analysis by interpreting static analysis results and guiding engineers in resolving issues more efficiently. A complementary feature, Polyspace as You Code, allows developers to detect coding errors and vulnerabilities in real time as they write code, strengthening software quality early in the development cycle.
The release also introduces several updates across the Polyspace family, including a new desktop application for unified configuration and results management, expanded bug detection capabilities and improved runtime error analysis.
Beyond AI enhancements, R2026a adds new tools and capabilities across MATLAB and Simulink. These include MATLAB Course Designer for building educational content, Simulink FMU Builder for model integration, improved Python interoperability, and enhanced simulation capabilities for C and C++ code. Additional upgrades in toolboxes such as Wireless Network, Mapping and Signal Processing further expand the platform’s capabilities.
According to MathWorks, the focus is on delivering AI tools that enhance productivity without compromising engineering discipline. The company emphasised that these capabilities are designed to help teams work faster while maintaining the trust and consistency required to develop complex systems.
With R2026a, MathWorks continues to push the integration of AI into engineering workflows, aiming to make development processes smarter, faster and more efficient.