AI in functional verification: What the 2026 industry data reveals

For the first time, the 2026 Siemens EDA and Wilson Research Group Functional Verification Study provides industry data on AI/ML adoption in functional verification. This paper reports on these findings, examining applications, benefits, and barriers to adoption. Leading applications of AI are debug and root-cause analysis, testbench and test generation, and coverage modeling and analysis. For engineering leaders, the priority is to move from successful point solutions to connected, traceable, and scalable workflows. More autonomous workflows and multiple deployment models will continue to emerge, but human judgment, IP protection, and clear controls remain essential.