Talking about the Future of the Test & Measurement Industry in the AI Era: NI President Ritu Favre
Published2026.04.24 13:24
▲EMERSON Test & Measurement Group, NI President Ritu Favre
Following the keynote at NI Days Korea 2026, Ritu Favre, President of Emerson’s Test & Measurement Group (NI), appeared far more relaxed and energetic than her title might suggest. The tension from the stage was gone; instead, she answered each question with bright enthusiasm, revealing a genuine passion for technology.
With a 35-year career in semiconductors spanning Motorola, Freescale, Synaptics, and most recently as CEO of Next Biometrics, Favre joined NI seven years ago and has led the business through its integration into Emerson. For her, the keynote was not merely a product announcement. it was, as the title suggested, a declaration of “NI’s new DNA.”
Throughout the interview, she repeatedly emphasized three key themes: complexity, speed, and data. According to Favre, these three words capture the essence of how AI is transforming the test and measurement industry.
1. Everything is becoming more complex - a structural shift in the AI era
The rapid expansion of AI and the explosive growth of data centers are reshaping the entire test and measurement landscape. Favre pointed first to what she called an “explosion of complexity.”
“In the past, we tested something as simple as a dial telephone. Now we’re dealing with systems like ADAS and jet engines systems so complex they’re hard to even conceptualize. The scale and speed of what needs to be tested are growing exponentially.”
As technology expands from semiconductors into aviation, wireless systems, and automotive applications, NI’s addressable markets have broadened into four major sectors: semiconductors, automotive, aerospace and defense, and energy/electromechanical systems. Across all of them, the common trend is rapidly increasing system complexity.
Favre noted that this complexity is exposing the limitations of traditional fixed-function testing. The once-linear process of design → validation → production has evolved into a continuous loop of design, validation, and redesign.
“Now we design, validate, and then go back to design again. That cycle keeps repeating. Testing has to span the entire workflow, and the data collected at each stage must be used to improve products quickly.”
▲ CEO of Ritu Favre touring the NI Days Korea 2026 booth
2. “Software is the Instrument” a philosophy that endures in the AI era
NI’s identity can be distilled into one phrase: “Software is the Instrument.” Asked what this means in the age of AI, Favre reflected on her own programming journey.
“I started coding in assembly language in school. That evolved into Fortran, Pascal, C, and Python. AI is simply the next step. It’s part of a long history of abstracting complexity in programming. Software remains the instrument, and AI is the enabler.”
NI’s evolution reflects this trajectory. From GPIB-based PC instruments to the graphical programming environment LabVIEW and the PXI platform, NI is now integrating AI into LabVIEW and TestStand. Features such as code completion, code generation, and the AI agent “Nigel” are reducing the amount of manual coding required from engineers.
3. An open ecosystem - PXI + LabVIEW + Nigel + TestStand
Another key strength Favre highlighted is NI’s open ecosystem. Built on modular hardware and flexible software platforms, it enables hundreds. if not thousands of partners to develop industry-specific solutions.
From ADAS and RF testing to radar and space applications, partners leverage NI’s platform to create customized solutions for customers. Samsung’s presentation on 6G AI at the event is one example of this ecosystem in action.
“Korea likely has one of the most active ecosystems in the world. That’s one of the reasons I always look forward to coming here.”
Favre identified semiconductors (driven by AI chip demand), aerospace and New Space (LEO satellites and drones), automotive (ADAS and centralized computing), and energy (data center power demand) as the sectors currently seeing the most innovation.
4. The evolution of Nigel: Advisor → Author → Agent
One of the key announcements at NI Days Korea 2026 was the roadmap for Nigel, NI’s AI agent. Favre emphasized that Nigel is not just a chatbot or coding assistant.
“Nigel is a test and measurement expert. Unlike general-purpose large language models like ChatGPT or Claude, it is deeply trained in test routines and measurement-specific skills.”
Nigel’s evolution is defined in three stages: Advisor, Author, and ultimately Agent capable of autonomously executing test workflows.
Rather than eliminating jobs, Favre believes this evolution will elevate the role of test engineers.
“Nigel will handle repetitive tasks such as defining test requirements, writing test plans, and coding test programs. That allows engineers to focus on higher-level thinking. how systems operate, where vulnerabilities exist. Instead of coding, they’ll spend more time analyzing data and extracting insights.”
Recalling her time leading test organizations at Motorola, she added:
“I used to tell my engineers: we must launch on time, meet yield, and ensure reliability. The test team always had to move faster. AI will make that challenge easier.”
▲ Overview of NI Days Korea 2026
5. Testing is not a gate. it’s a strategic asset
Toward the end of the interview, Favre emphasized a fundamental shift in how NI views the role of testing.
“Many still see testing as something you simply have to pass before launch. We see it differently. Testing generates massive amounts of data, and that data can be used to make products better, faster, and with higher yield. Testing is a strategic differentiator.”
Looking ahead to the next 50 years, she highlighted two priorities: relentless innovation and investment in people. NI plans to continue strengthening three pillars tight hardware-software integration, AI capabilities, and its partner ecosystem.
In an era where AI-driven breakthroughs emerge every few months, NI’s competitive edge lies in flexibility: an open platform that can rapidly integrate new technologies. That adaptability, Favre believes, is what will sustain NI for the next half-century.
Ritu Favre — Profile
Motorola → Freescale → Synaptics → Next Biometrics → NI (now President, Emerson Test & Measurement Group)
35 years in the semiconductor industry; 7 years at NI; 3 years as business unit leader.
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