The Role of AI in Engineering and Its Impact on the Way We Will Work

Written by Hannah Cho

In the recent years, AI has been taking the world by storm. It has become such an integrated part of our everyday lives that there is not one career field that has been unaffected.

Amongst all these different fields, I believe that the one that has undergone the most change is engineering. But what is AI exactly, and how is it transforming the field of engineering?

What is AI?

Already known to most, AI stands for artificial intelligence. It is the contrast to natural intelligence, which living beings like humans and animal exhibit. AI is intelligence, but from machines. However, not all machines are considered AI. The main point of an AI device is that it is a machine we create to function on their own, to learn and grow based on the data it receives.

What is the role of AI in Engineering today?

Today, AI is being used in engineering in many ways.

Using Robots in Engineering Applications

For one, robots are used in manufacturing. Although robots have been used for decades in factories, old robots were simply able to complete a task when told to do so. Robots that are being created now can operate much more independently without the need of a supervisor to tell it what to do. A specific example of this are robotic arms, which a worker would control themselves using a remote or buttons. Some robotic arms are now designed to locate where objects are on its own using object recognition.

Using AI to Make Engineering Predictions

Another role of AI in engineering are AI programs that collect data and make predictions. There are simulators that engineers can use to help predict outcomes and aid in planning for a large-scale project. While testing a project in real life, sensors can be used to report data and make suggestions on how to fix issues. Such programs help save time on smaller tasks so engineers can focus on more important tasks and issues.

How Does AI Affect the Field of Engineering?

AI has greatly affected the field of engineering. For one part, engineering includes creating products for people. Products that use AI. Because of this, engineers are now tasked with the job of applying AI into new products so that the general public can use them, meaning they must understand and learn how AI works!

AI has become such an important part of engineering that there is now a field called “AI Engineering.” People are now hired to be AI engineers, working to create AI machines to solve real world problems.

Workers also now have to relearn the way they worked with the introduction of new technology. In 2019, Microsoft even did a case study on how using AI systems in workflow changes the way work was done in the past to be considerably different.

The Future of AI in Engineering

AI is about letting a machine think for itself. AI is now reconstructing the ways of engineering, and it will continue to do so in the future. We can look forward to seeing the further changes that will come in the next few years.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2020/02/07/how-is-artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning-used-in-engineering/?sh=1809289b4a85

https://www.techslang.com/5-engineering-applications-of-artificial-intelligence/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJvG6dr1sQQ&t=13s

https://www.sei.cmu.edu/our-work/artificial-intelligence-engineering/

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/software-engineering-for-machine-learning-a-case-study/"