NI Connect 2026: Full Speed Ahead for Nigel, Hardware Roadmaps, and the Community

1. Nigel is evolving, and that's a good thing for engineers

NI's AI assistant, Nigel, is evolving to author code and run analytics across the LabVIEW+ suite, with agentic capabilities on the roadmap. Built specifically on test and measurement training data, Nigel provides ready context for engineers looking to develop code faster, interpret test data, and integrate hardware-centric systems.  A major release with code generation is slated for July.

In the Day 1 keynote, NI technology leaders spoke about what this means for engineers, as knowledgeable human-in-the-loop rigor isn't going away.  Architecting systems, validating results, and applying real engineering judgment to complex hardware-software system is more critical now than ever.

To learn more about what Nigel has in store, schedule a demo or get in touch for an extended 3-month trial

2. CompactRIO isn't standing still

With multiple cRIO demos across the expo floor, a dedicated Controls and Monitoring Summit of technical sessions, and a keynote callout to new controllers on the horizon, NI is committed to the future of CompactRIO.

NI has released and is committed to a slew of new C Series modules, expanding I/O and price points. Moreover, new higher performance CompactRIO controllers are in development. Technical sessions covered the RIO platform's open ecosystem (Python, C++, VHDL) and AI-ready capabilities for model-based inference and adaptive algorithms for distributed edge applications. It is clear that the NI team is not just talking about, but putting real engineering cycles toward bolstering the platform's capabilities for advanced control and monitoring systems, and not just test.

If you'd like access to the Control & Monitoring Summit content, feel free to drop us a line.

3. After 50 years of NI and 40 years of LabVIEW, there's renewed focus on the community

The energy at NI Connect this year was unmistakable. The mood can in no small part be attributed to NI's reinvigoration of the LabVIEW community, a clear return to a user conference with over 100 technical sessions, and a multitude of general product announcements.

On top of this, there were some lighthearted moments during the keynotes and a handful of fun demos spread across the expo floor. This is to say nothing of the conference party at Billy Bob's...

If you're looking to get or stay involved, plug into your local LabVIEW user group.

4. New RF and SDR product releases

   
   

NI announced the Core VST line: a new family of RF products in a 2-slot PXIe form factor, covering VSA, VSG, and VST configurations up to 6 GHz. The headline though is the price point. These new modules will be significantly lower than existing VST models, opening the platform to new applications and research programs.

NI also signaled continued expansion of the USRP product line and its open software ecosystem, further building its best-in-class toolchain for wireless research, prototyping, and testbed design.

5. The right partner makes everything else possible

One theme that continuously came through sessions, keynotes, and conversations is that the engineering teams moving fast and delivering on innovative projects aren’t doing it alone. Those building and scaling complex systems, hitting program milestones, or trying out new ideas are leveraging the latest tools and partners to achieve their goals. There is strength in the ecosystem of expert partners who help design, bring-up, and test the systems of today and tomorrow.

Cyth was honored to receive NI's 25-Year Partner Award, a recognition of two and a half decades of helping customers configure, integrate, and build with NI products. We don't take that kind of tenure for granted as our customers are the driving force for everything we do.