AI options for Sparx EA

AI tools for Sparx EA

Six AI options work with Sparx Enterprise Architect. Three are built into Sparx products, and three surface Sparx data and capabilities through the AI platform your organization already uses. They serve different jobs, and the right one lets each person work where they are most comfortable.

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Two approaches

Where do you want to work?

AI within Sparx applications

Sparx Systems builds AI into its own products. Kernaro Assist puts it inside Enterprise Architect, Kernaro AI Hub puts the repository behind a chat page in a browser, and Prolaborate 6 with AI brings it to the stakeholder portal. The AI is built for architecture work and lives where the Sparx product lives.

Sparx applications connected to your AI tools

This approach surfaces Sparx data and capabilities through the AI platform your organization already uses. AI Power Tools connects Claude and GitHub Copilot to the live repository with a library of architecture skills, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reads published EA data for stakeholders. The architecture work happens in the AI tool people already have open, beside everything else they use it for.

They are different tools for different jobs, and many organizations end up with one from each group. What matters most is that each person can work in the surface they are most comfortable in: the modeler in Enterprise Architect, the engineer in VS Code, the analyst in a browser, the business reader in Microsoft 365.

The six options

With Sparx EA, you have choices

AI within Sparx applications

Kernaro

Kernaro Assist

Sparx Systems

An add-in from Sparx Systems that puts an AI assistant inside Enterprise Architect, where it creates, changes and checks model content in plain language.

Choose it when your architects model in EA all day and want the AI in the same window.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Kernaro

Kernaro AI Hub

Sparx Systems

A web application from Sparx Systems that answers questions about the repository.

Choose it when you want an architecture-specific AI capability, rather than combining architecture data with other data sets.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Prolaborate

Prolaborate 6 with AI

Sparx Systems

The stakeholder collaboration portal from Sparx Systems, with AI that summarizes discussions and diagrams, searches the model in natural language, and drafts and polishes descriptions.

Choose it when Prolaborate is already how your stakeholders see the architecture.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Sparx applications connected to your AI tools

Claude

Claude + AI Power Tools

Anthropic and NovoCircle

A Claude Desktop extension and skills that interact with EA running locally on the architect’s computer, through MCP and computer use, and with Prolaborate in the browser.

Choose it when your organization permits Claude and you want the widest range of skilled work on the live model.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Visual Studio Code

GitHub Copilot + AI Power Tools

GitHub and NovoCircle

GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code working on the live repository through AI Power Tools, with AI models from several providers and no computer use today.

Choose it when your architects already work in VS Code with Copilot, or you want the choice of AI model.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft

Read-only access to the repository for stakeholders in Microsoft 365 Copilot, either through Kernaro AI Hub or through a reporting database published as a Power BI model.

Choose it when you want to make architecture content available to a broad stakeholder audience.

Solution Details  Training Available 

Getting EA data to Power BI and Microsoft 365 Copilot

  • Kernaro AI Hub

    This is the route we recommend for organizations that can fund it. Power BI reads Hub live through the Kernaro Connector for Power BI, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reaches Hub’s read-only API through Copilot Studio or a Microsoft 365 connector.

  • Power BI

    Without Hub, AI Power Tools offers free ways to publish your EA data to Power BI. Microsoft 365 Copilot then answers from the published model as of its last refresh.

Choosing

How do I choose which one is right for me?

  • What job are you trying to do?

    Take a look at the four AI-Augmented Architecture use cases. Each of these AI options has its place, but choosing the right one depends on what you are trying to do with it. If you are trying to enable AI capabilities for stakeholders, you will likely need different tools than for enabling architects.

  • What tools do you have available today?

    If you already have Claude, VS Code, Prolaborate or other components, start there. Then check with your IT department about whether there are any policy constraints you need to comply with.

  • What data do you need to work with?

    The Kernaro and Prolaborate AI capabilities work on data in your EA repository or integrated with Sparx Connectors. The Claude, GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot options give you access to other business data and systems available through MCP. Some options are read-only, and others provide edit capabilities too.

  • What AI skills does your team have today?

    AI is only as good as the person prompting it. If you have experience with an AI tool today, you may want to start with a solution that builds on that experience instead of having to learn something entirely new.

  • Do you have budget to acquire software that you don’t have today?

    If not, you may be limited to working with what you already have. None of these solutions are expensive relative to other business software, but some organizations are severely limited by budget right now.

The full comparison

AI in Sparx EA Comparison Matrix

Option Kernaro AssistSparx Systems Kernaro AI HubSparx Systems Prolaborate 6 with AISparx Systems Claude + AI Power ToolsAnthropic and NovoCircle GitHub Copilot + AI Power ToolsGitHub and NovoCircle Microsoft 365 CopilotMicrosoft
What it lets an architect doCreate, change and check model content in plain language inside EA.Ask questions about the repository in a browser and get answers and reports.Give stakeholders summaries, natural language search and drafted descriptions in the collaboration portal.Direct Claude on the live model, with computer use, and in Prolaborate through the browser.Direct Copilot Chat on the live model from VS Code, with the same skills and AI models from several providers.Give stakeholders read-only answers about the repository in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Where it runsAdd-in inside EA on the architect’s Windows desktop.Web application on your infrastructure or Sparx’s managed cloud.The Prolaborate web portal.Claude desktop app on the architect’s Windows computer, with EA running locally.VS Code on the architect’s Windows computer, with EA running locally.Microsoft 365 Copilot in the cloud. Nothing installs on the architect’s machine.
Who it is forModelers who work inside EA all day.Architects and analysts who want an architecture-specific AI capability.Stakeholders who collaborate on the model in Prolaborate.Architects who want the widest range of skilled work on the live model.Architects who work in VS Code, or want the choice of AI model.A broad stakeholder audience in Microsoft 365.
Use cases it serves bestModeling Governance AnalysisAnalysis Stakeholder EngagementAnalysis Stakeholder EngagementModeling Analysis Governance Stakeholder EngagementModeling Analysis Governance Stakeholder EngagementStakeholder Engagement read-only Q&A
AI model and who pays for tokensYour own LLM account or gateway, paid to the provider.Your own LLM (Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS Bedrock, Gemini), paid to the provider.Your own LLM, plus a Kernaro AI Hub license from Sparx Systems.Claude models on your Claude plan. AI Power Tools is free.Any model your Copilot plan allows, including Claude, or your own API key. AI Power Tools is free.Microsoft’s models, paid through the Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
IT and governance constraintsLicensed per machine. Hub adds single sign-on, roles, named seats, shared agents and an audit trail.A server for your IT team to run, with single sign-on and central permissions.Off by default. Your IT team switches it on and connects your LLM.Your organization must permit Claude. Team and Enterprise owners control which extensions people may use.On Copilot Business and Enterprise, an administrator must switch it on.Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses, and access to the published EA data.
Choose this whenYour architects model in EA all day and want AI in the same window.You want an architecture-specific AI capability rather than combining architecture data with other data sets.Prolaborate is already how your stakeholders see the architecture.Your organization permits Claude and you want the widest range of skilled work on the live model.Your architects already work in VS Code with Copilot, or you want the choice of AI model.You want to make architecture content available to a broad stakeholder audience.

Scroll sideways to see all six options.

Kernaro Assist

What it lets an architect do
Create, change and check model content in plain language inside EA.
Where it runs
Add-in inside EA on the architect’s Windows desktop.
Who it is for
Modelers who work inside EA all day.
Use cases it serves best
Modeling Governance Analysis
AI model and who pays for tokens
Your own LLM account or gateway, paid to the provider.
IT and governance constraints
Licensed per machine. Hub adds single sign-on, roles, named seats, shared agents and an audit trail.
Choose this when
Your architects model in EA all day and want AI in the same window.

Kernaro AI Hub

What it lets an architect do
Ask questions about the repository in a browser and get answers and reports.
Where it runs
Web application on your infrastructure or Sparx’s managed cloud.
Who it is for
Architects and analysts who want an architecture-specific AI capability.
Use cases it serves best
Analysis Stakeholder Engagement
AI model and who pays for tokens
Your own LLM (Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS Bedrock, Gemini), paid to the provider.
IT and governance constraints
A server for your IT team to run, with single sign-on and central permissions.
Choose this when
You want an architecture-specific AI capability rather than combining architecture data with other data sets.

Prolaborate 6 with AI

What it lets an architect do
Give stakeholders summaries, natural language search and drafted descriptions in the collaboration portal.
Where it runs
The Prolaborate web portal.
Who it is for
Stakeholders who collaborate on the model in Prolaborate.
Use cases it serves best
Analysis Stakeholder Engagement
AI model and who pays for tokens
Your own LLM, plus a Kernaro AI Hub license from Sparx Systems.
IT and governance constraints
Off by default. Your IT team switches it on and connects your LLM.
Choose this when
Prolaborate is already how your stakeholders see the architecture.

Claude + AI Power Tools

What it lets an architect do
Direct Claude on the live model, with computer use, and in Prolaborate through the browser.
Where it runs
Claude desktop app on the architect’s Windows computer, with EA running locally.
Who it is for
Architects who want the widest range of skilled work on the live model.
Use cases it serves best
Modeling Analysis Governance Stakeholder Engagement
AI model and who pays for tokens
Claude models on your Claude plan. AI Power Tools is free.
IT and governance constraints
Your organization must permit Claude. Team and Enterprise owners control which extensions people may use.
Choose this when
Your organization permits Claude and you want the widest range of skilled work on the live model.

GitHub Copilot + AI Power Tools

What it lets an architect do
Direct Copilot Chat on the live model from VS Code, with the same skills and AI models from several providers.
Where it runs
VS Code on the architect’s Windows computer, with EA running locally.
Who it is for
Architects who work in VS Code, or want the choice of AI model.
Use cases it serves best
Modeling Analysis Governance Stakeholder Engagement
AI model and who pays for tokens
Any model your Copilot plan allows, including Claude, or your own API key. AI Power Tools is free.
IT and governance constraints
On Copilot Business and Enterprise, an administrator must switch it on.
Choose this when
Your architects already work in VS Code with Copilot, or you want the choice of AI model.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

What it lets an architect do
Give stakeholders read-only answers about the repository in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Where it runs
Microsoft 365 Copilot in the cloud. Nothing installs on the architect’s machine.
Who it is for
A broad stakeholder audience in Microsoft 365.
Use cases it serves best
Stakeholder Engagement read-only Q&A
AI model and who pays for tokens
Microsoft’s models, paid through the Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
IT and governance constraints
Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses, and access to the published EA data.
Choose this when
You want to make architecture content available to a broad stakeholder audience.
Questions

AI tools for Sparx EA: common questions

Kernaro Assist vs Kernaro AI Hub: what is the difference?

Both come from Sparx Systems. Kernaro Assist is an add-in inside Enterprise Architect, and architects use it to create, change and check model content in plain language. Kernaro AI Hub is a web application over the repository, and people use it for Model Chat, impact analysis, links to tools like Jira and Confluence, and Word and Excel reports. Model Chat and reports read the repository, and Intelligent Flow automations can write to it where configured. Assist runs on its own, or the Advanced license connects it to Hub for SSO, roles, shared agents and an audit trail.

Does Sparx Enterprise Architect have an MCP server?

The core product does not have one. Kernaro AI Hub includes a read-only MCP server. This may have changed since we checked, so confirm it with Sparx Systems. AI Power Tools for Sparx EA (opens in a new tab) is a separate MCP server that reads and writes the repository, and it works with Claude and GitHub Copilot.

What AI tools work with Sparx Enterprise Architect?

Six options work with it. Sparx Systems offers Kernaro Assist, Kernaro AI Hub and Prolaborate 6 with AI. AI Power Tools for Sparx EA (opens in a new tab) connects Claude and GitHub Copilot to the live repository. Microsoft 365 Copilot answers read-only questions from a published Power BI model built from your EA data, or through Kernaro AI Hub’s read-only API.

Can I use Claude with Sparx EA?

Yes. AI Power Tools for Sparx EA (opens in a new tab) connects Claude to the live repository with read and write access, and adds skills for architecture work. The architect uses the Claude desktop app on Windows, with EA on the same machine. Claude Cowork cannot work on the live model today. See Claude + AI Power Tools.

Can GitHub Copilot work with Sparx EA?

Yes. AI Power Tools for Sparx EA (opens in a new tab) connects GitHub Copilot in VS Code to the live repository, with the same skills Claude uses. Copilot can use any model your plan allows, so no Claude subscription is needed. On Copilot Business and Enterprise, an administrator must switch it on first. There is no computer use in VS Code today, so the architect opens EA and checks diagrams in its window. See GitHub Copilot + AI Power Tools.

Can Microsoft 365 Copilot answer questions about my EA repository?

Yes, read-only, once the EA data is published. We recommend Kernaro AI Hub, whose read-only API reaches Copilot through Copilot Studio or a Microsoft 365 connector. This may have changed since we checked, so confirm it with Sparx Systems. The alternative is a Power BI semantic model built from the AI Power Tools reporting database. Microsoft says “Answers reflect the data from the last refresh of the semantic model, not real-time data.” See Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Is AI Power Tools for Sparx EA free?

Yes. AI Power Tools for Sparx EA (opens in a new tab) is a community-developed product, available to all Sparx users free of charge. Claude and GitHub Copilot are licensed by their vendors. Sparx Services is a NovoCircle practice, independent of Sparx Systems Pty Ltd, and it sells training and consulting.

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