For several years, but more recently in particular, Artificial Intelligence and its prominence and application has been growing. AI such as the infamous ChatGPT has become part of many people’s day-to-day, whilst AI applications are becoming bigger and more prevalent across most industries. 

Across STEM industries Artificial Intelligence is really making an impact. In Life Sciences for example, AI is helping to develop and accelerate processes for research, discovery and creation of game-changing drugs and treatments. However, whilst AI is supporting people and their work, there are some concerns it could someday remove the need for people and their work altogether. 

So, what about the impact of Artificial Intelligence in Engineering – one of the key STEM industries? Is AI an engineer’s friend or foe? Will it help take engineers and engineering techniques and processes to the next level, or deem them redundant? Let’s dive in… 

Artificial Intelligence in Engineering: The Good

There can be no doubt that Artificial Intelligence has the power and potential to make positive impacts in engineering. In fact, it already is.

AI can, and is, helping to transform, improve and optimise a variety of processes, functions and performance metrics across engineering and its various applications. A piece from Henri Hubert of the AI Engineer Hub, which helps engineers navigate the AI revolution, highlights just a few of the benefits Artificial Intelligence brings to an engineering environment, including:

  • AI Driven Design and Optimisation – Leveraging the power of AI’s machine learning and generative design capabilities, working in parallel with engineer’s existing expertise and experience, allows complex engineering processes and tasks to be more efficient, sustainable and innovative.
  • Predictive Maintenance and Asset Management – Another way in which Artificial Intelligence is driving engineering efficiency and reliability; by studying data and predicting patterns, AI can help to discover problem areas before they even arise, which can reduce downtime, maintenance costs and free-up time.
  • Collaborative Robotics and Human-Machine Synergy – Artificial Intelligence robots learn from humans as much as they can teach them and can adapt to the parameters of certain situations and tasks to complete and perform them – alongside humans – to a remarkably high standard.
  • AI-Enhanced Safety and Risk Management – AI has the power to help take health and safety management to the next level, through identifying potential risks and suggesting potential outcomes and countermeasures, which can then be put into place in relevant processes and functions.
  • AI in Education and Skill Development – Engineering is evolving and developing all the time, requiring the development and learning of new skills, processes and knowledge. Utilising AI to identify potential new skills and processes that may be required in the future gives engineers a potential head start, allowing them to nurture such skills ahead of the time they may be needed.

AI, when used correctly, is widely perceived as a supportive technology within the engineering industry; one that – when used in support of humans, their work and goals, rather than against them – has the capability to not only change the way things are done for the better now, but also shape the future of the industry too.

But the key here, is always whether AI is being ‘used correctly’, as we’ll now explore…

Artificial Intelligence in Engineering: The Bad

Considering the power of Artificial Intelligence and the potential breadth of its abilities, it is easy to fall into thinking that AI is the ‘all seeing, all knowing’ answer to all problems, questions and tasks. This is risky.

For example, as highlighted by Eugenia Rho, Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech’s Department of Computer Science, an increased dependence on AI can reduce critical thinking, which in turn could potentially lead to a diminishing of skills and knowledge, and – as a knock-on effect – deter future human development.

Meanwhile, Ali Shojaei Assistant Professor, Myers-Lawson School of Construction warns against an accelerated, all-out integration and adoption of AI in real-world settings, suggesting that seeing Artificial Intelligence as a ‘silver bullet’ to all problems and challenges in industries such as engineering could lead to poor results.

What’s more, with Artificial Intelligence built on, operated by and developed by data, it suffers from a few data-related drawbacks too. AI supplied with incorrect or incomplete data will produce incorrect or incomplete results; in turn resulting in products and processes could hinder engineers, rather than help. Don’t forget, data is stored and powered by data centres that consume large amounts of electricity too, so by utilising AI you could in fact risk negatively impacting your company’s carbon footprint – an important consideration in STEM industries.

Artificial Intelligence in Engineering: The (Potentially) Worrying

Adopting new technology, approaches, methods and techniques often brings with it a few worries; after all, change – no matter how positive it could potentially be – can be unsettling and difficult to understand.

The adoption of Artificial Intelligence in engineering is certainly presenting some potential worries and challenges for those within the industry, and arguably the most common and concerning for many is AI’s impact on human-roles and job security, and whether Artificial Intelligence – with all its capabilities and seemingly-endless applications – could simply replace a human workforce.

However, there is believe that this isn’t the case. In fact, even AI developers are keen to dispel these concerns. Dr Richard Ahlfeld, CEO and Founder of Monolith, an AI platform used by some of the world’s leading automotive, aerospace and industrial engineering firms, for example has offered some settling insight, supporting the idea that AI is simply there to support and further develop the skilled workers within industries such as engineering.

These thoughts are also echoed by Ali Shojaei, who – despite recognising the potential for workers’ roles to become obsolete due to the adoption of AI – sees new human-role opportunities arising from the introduction of Artificial Intelligence and what is required to support and benefit from it.

The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Engineering

Artificial Intelligence is here. And here to stay. Like it or not, AI is – and will continue to – impacting all our lives; even if you’re not aware of, or understand, the impact it is having or the way it is making said impacts.

AI is revolutionising processes, projects and the results they produce, with the aim of making life – in and outside of work – easier for us all.

It may or may not replace humans in existing engineering roles; it could, or could not, create new roles too. But one thing is for sure, Artificial Intelligence has the potential to help build a bolder, brighter future for engineering and engineers – but only if it is used correctly, carefully and considerately, and in support of the work that talented, expert engineers produce.