What You’ll Learn in this Article 

NI Nigel AI Overview

Q: What is NI's Nigel AI?

A: NI Nigel AI is an AI built specifically for test and measurement, combining test system design and methodology knowledge with deep integration into NI software. Beginning with the LabVIEW+ Suite 2026 Q3 release, it is available in LabVIEW, NI TestStand, NI FlexLogger, NI VeriStand, and NI InstrumentStudio.

Q: What packages does Nigel ship with? 

A: Nigel is available in LabVIEW Professional, NI TestStand, NI Veristand and NI FlexLogger Pro, along with the LabVIEW+ Suite and any other bundle that includes one of those software products.

Q: What is the underlying technology behind Nigel?

A: Nigel is built on Emerson's secure cloud operations platform. It uses best-in-class OpenAI models, hosted on Microsoft Azure with enterprise-grade privacy and security guarantee. For questions about deployments on locally hosted servers, please contact us.

Q: What kind of expertise has been built into Nigel?

A: Nigel draws on industry-standard models of test best practices combined with NI's own test and measurement expertise, developed over more than 50 years.

Nigel across NI Software

Q: What software includes Nigel as of the 2026 Q3 release?

A: Nigel is integrated into LabVIEW, NI TestStand, NI FlexLogger, NI VeriStand, and NI InstrumentStudio, as part of the 2026 Q3 release.

Q: What can Nigel help with across NI software?

A: Nigel can help review information faster, develop code faster, and review code faster.

Q: Can Nigel recommend hardware for a specific type of measurement or test?

A: Nigel can provide best practices when developing code for a specific measurement or test type, including hardware recommendations, coding approaches, and test system design guidance.

Q: Does Nigel know what's already in my system?

A: Nigel has context on what is already present in a user's project, so recommendations include available hardware and software rather than generic suggestions.

Q: How does Nigel build context about existing resources, like subVIs or code modules?

A: Nigel only sees what is inside of a distinct project. Resources and dependencies outside of that project are not visible context for Nigel.

Q: How many files can Nigel generate at once?

A: Nigel generates one VI or test sequence at a time. An NI FlexLogger project is treated as a single generatable unit even though it contains multiple files.

Q: Should I review what Nigel generates or recommends?

A: Yes, reviewing and validating Nigel's output remains necessary, as with any AI tool. NI benchmarks Nigel's responses and reports accuracy on par with or better than general-purpose LLMs.

Q: Who is responsible for validating what Nigel generates or recommends?

A: Reviewing, deploying, and using Nigel's output effectively remains the engineer's responsibility. Building a reliable test system is the engineer's job, Nigel AI is intended to support that work rather than take it over.

NI LabVIEW

Q: What's new for Nigel in the LabVIEW+ Suite 2026 Q3 release?

A: Nigel can now generate code directly from prompts in LabVIEW. This feature builds on existing support for code review, code completion, and search functionality.

Q: What hardware and instrument types does LabVIEW code generation support?

A: Code generation in this release covers NI-DAQmx devices and NI PXI modular instruments, excluding RF instruments. It also extends to NI third-party plug-and-play devices.

Q: Does code generation support NI CompactRIO (cRIO) hardware?

A: NI cRIO hardware, including support for LabVIEW Real-Time and LabVIEW FPGA, is not supported for code generation in the 2026 Q3 release.

Q: How does Nigel handle edits to existing LabVIEW code?

A: Rather than editing a VI in place, Nigel is capable of creating a new VI containing the original code with requested changes.

Q: Can Nigel help me understand what an existing VI does?

A: Nigel can review a VI and explain what it does, useful for understanding unfamiliar or inherited code.

Q: Can Nigel help with a VI that is not working correctly?

A: Yes, Nigel can review a broken VI, diagnose the issue, and explain what's happening in the code. It can also give specific guidance on the changes needed to fix it.

Q: Can Nigel help me find functions or examples in LabVIEW?

A: The global search bar lets you submit a description of the task you want to complete, and Nigel returns relevant palette items, including functions and examples, that support it. Results are ranked from most to least relevant.

Q: Does Nigel support source code control (SCC)? 

A: Source code control (SCC) is not confirmed as a capability within the Nigel environment itself in the 2026 Q3 release. However, LabVIEW Professional separately integrates with third-party source control tools such as Perforce and Subversion, independent of NI Nigel AI.

NI TestStand

Q: What's new for Nigel in the NI TestStand 2026 Q3 release?

A: Nigel can now generate NI TestStand sequences from a specifications file, in addition to its existing support for finding information, building sequences, and managing settings.

Q: What does Nigel need to generate an NI TestStand sequence?

A: Nigel generates NI TestStand sequences from a specifications file using a provided template, with example fields such as test names, limits, ranges, and conditions.

Q: How do I know if Nigel did a good job generating a sequence?

A: Generated sequences include a confidence rating on the steps Nigel created. Reviewing and validating the generated sequence is still necessary, as with any AI-generated output.

Q: Can Nigel help me understand what an existing NI TestStand sequence does?

A: Yes, Nigel can explain sequence logic in plain terms, useful for auditing an existing sequence or understanding one you've inherited from someone else.

Q: Can Nigel help with settings and configuration in NI TestStand?

A: Yes, Nigel AI can locate settings menus and configurations, surface relevant documentation, and has direct API access to change settings on your behalf.

NI InstrumentStudio

Q: What can Nigel do in the NI InstrumentStudio 2026 Q3 release?

A: In NI InstrumentStudio, Nigel AI provides guidance on hardware information, specifications, and best practices. Code and sequence generaiton are not yet included.

Q: Can NI Nigel AI help me review hardware specifications within NI InstrumentStudio?

A: Yes, Nigel AI can review hardware specifications, including pinouts, reducing the need to dig through manuals to find that information.

Q: Can NI Nigel AI help move a configuration from NI InstrumentStudio into NI TestStand?

A: Nigel AI can advise on exporting an NI InstrumentStudio configuration into NI TestStand, and provide troubleshooting guidance for debugging instrument behavior.

NI FlexLogger

Q: What can Nigel do in the NI FlexLogger 2026 Q3 release?

A: Nigel can help set up and configure an NI FlexLogger project, including hardware and best-practice recommendations. It's integrated into the platform for system context, so recommendations reflect hardware you already have rather than generic suggestions.

Q: Can Nigel help with wiring or setup details?

A: Nigel AI can provide pinout diagrams to help ensure a project is set up correctly.

Q: Can Nigel help configure logic like alarms or safety conditions?

A: Nigel can recommend how to set up events for logic-based triggers that you want included in an NI FlexLogger project.

Q: Does NI FlexLogger require a specific edition to use Nigel?

A: Nigel is available in FlexLogger Pro.

Access, Data, and Security

Q: Is NI Nigel AI secure?

A: Nigel runs on NI/Emerson's secure, cloud-based operations platform, using OpenAI models hosted on Microsoft Azure. Communication between the desktop software and Nigel AI's cloud service uses encrypted TLS traffic, authenticated with signed certificates.

Q: Does Nigel store my data or use it to train its models?

A: No, Nigel doesn't use your data to train its underlying models. Prompt data is only stored locally.

Q: Does NI/Emerson see my conversations with Nigel?

A: NI/Emerson does not have access to conversations with Nigel AI unless you choose to send that information intentionally to provide product feedback. Feedback on an NI Nigel AI response goes to the development team working on Nigel AI, who use it to improve the product. That feedback is not sent back into Nigel AI and is not added to its training data.

Q: What information does Nigel send when I use a feature like “Describe VI”?

A: The data sent depends on the workflow. For the “Describe VI” feature, the VI is serialized and sent to the model for a description, but it is not stored in the cloud.

Q: What about code completion or palette search?

A: For code completion, information about the surrounding VI, including comments, is sent as part of the query and deleted once a response is returned. For palette and example search, Nigel AI sends the prompt along with matching palette or example items and returns a prioritized list with an explanation for the ranking.

Q: Can NI Nigel be disabled?

A: Nigel can be disabled through registry keys. Disablement can be limited to just the "Discuss with Nigel" feature or for all Nigel functionality, including chat and search.

Q: Do I need an internet connection to use NI Nigel AI?

A: Yes, an active internet connection is required to use Nigel.

Q: Is NI Nigel available globally?

A: Nigel can be used anywhere with internet access and access to OpenAI's models. NI continues to evaluate options for customers with country or company-specific restrictions on model usage.

Q: Can I use NI Nigel on premises or with my own model?

A: Nigel currently requires an internet connection and works only with OpenAI's models. NI is planning to expand the models and hosting options Nigel AI can connect to, including private tenant solutions.

Q: Can I speak with NI Nigel in a language other than English?

A: Yes, Nigel AI supports 95 languages for conversational understanding, though the experience may vary by language.

Q: How does NI Nigel relate to broader product security requirements, like the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)?

A: NI and Emerson have been involved in the development of cybersecurity regulations such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which requires products sold in the EU to meet compliance requirements, including software bill of materials documentation (SBOM), by December 2027. NI products, including those with Nigel AI integration, are being certified ahead of that deadline. SBOM generation will be included in the VI Package Manager (VIPM) as part of its 2026 Q3 release, supporting Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance efforts.

Q: Can I exclude NI Nigel from installation for security-sensitive environments?

A: Yes, Nigel can be excluded from install by deselecting it during software installation, giving security-conscious teams control over what's included in a deployment.

Licensing and Availability

Q: How do I get access to NI Nigel?

A: Nigel AI is available in LabVIEW Professional, NI TestStand, NI FlexLogger Pro, NI VeriStand, the LabVIEW+ Suite, and other bundles or agreements that include one of those products. Access requires an active subscription license or a perpetual license with an active software service agreement.

Q: Is NI Nigel included with an NI Academic Volume License (AVL)?

A: The NI Academic Volume License (AVL) includes LabVIEW Professional, NI TestStand Development System, NI FlexLogger Pro and NI VeriStand, which all include Nigel.

Q: Can I access NI Nigel with a perpetual license?

A: A perpetual license requires an active software service agreement to access NI Nigel AI. The first year of service is included with a perpetual license purchase and can be renewed annually.

Q: Can I upgrade my software to get access to NI Nigel?

A: Upgrading to a software license, version, and edition that supports NI Nigel AI grants access, regardless of which NI product you're using.

Q: If I am part of an NI Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Volume License Agreement (VLA, how do I confirm I have NI Nigel access?

A: NI EA and VLA teams receive documentation on associating users with service entitlements, including NI Nigel AI.

What's Ahead for NI Nigel?

Q: Will Nigel AI's capabilities keep expanding?

A: NI plans to continue expanding Nigel's capabilities and its availability across more of the NI software portfolio. Further advancements to code and sequence generation are planned for future releases beyond what's included in the 2026 Q3 release.

Q: Will NI Nigel AI be added to more NI software in the future?

A: Nigel was introduced in LabVIEW and NI TestStand in 2025, and expanded to NI FlexLogger, NI VeriStand, and NI InstrumentStudio in the 2026 Q3 release. NI plans to add Nigel AI to more of its software products in the future.

Q: Will code generation expand to more hardware types in the future?

A: The 2026 Q3 release includes code and sequence generation on NI-DAQmx devices, NI PXI modular instruments, and NI third-party plug-and-play devices. NI Nigel AI code generation coverage for other hardware products are planned for future releases.

Q: Can NI Nigel share context across NI software in the future?

A: Currently each Nigel AI instance is local to its own software product, so context is not shared automatically between programs. Native context sharing is on NI’s software roadmap. For now, Model Context Protocol (MCP) server integration can bridge that gap and share information between software products.