What Promising Future Awaits Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence?

By Keith Nesrsta Vice President and General Manager, Symmetry Electronics

In early 2022, a colleague introduced me to OpenAI and the world of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). For the first time, it felt like we were fully harnessing AI, a tool that is now revolutionizing the engineering world in numerous ways. It is not only transforming applications and solutions across all engineering disciplines but also their design processes.

AI advancements span areas such as intelligent design and simulations, predictive maintenance, autonomous systems, quality control and inspections, and environmental impact assessment. Its reach leads to enhanced safety, efficiency, and sustainability that was previously unattainable. The future of AI in engineering holds exciting possibilities.

The AI Evolution

Today’s technological revolution actually began as early as the 1950s with the development of electronic data storage and leveraging the use of intelligent machines to perform mathematical functions. In the 1970s, movies like Star Wars showcased what scientists and engineers envisioned as possible with advancing technology. AI, essentially computers performing what are considered to be human-like activities, has only accelerated in its development and sophistication over the last half-century. In recent years, we have seen more advancements in AI than those associated with the invention of the Internet.