Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables computers to do tasks that usually need human thinking such as solving problems, writing essays and analyzing data. In my opinion, AI is taking over most of the fields and jobs in our lives. Focusing on mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the field in different aspects. 

Engineer Seif, a 2023 mechanical engineering graduate from AUC, explains that in design and simulation, AI-driven algorithms like generative design help engineers to create designs for mechanical systems. According to my research, generative design is a method of using AI algorithms to generate and evaluate multiple design alternatives based on input from the user. I was impressed by my finds on the generative design, it was my first time knowing such information. 

Moreover, AI can be useful academically. A friend of mine who is enrolled in a Mechanical Drawing course that I took last semester, mentioned that AI could help her design the parts and then she can assemble the machine. She said and I quote, “It would be much easier for me since we only get graded on the assembly of the machine at the end.” I believe that as my friend and I progress further into the mechanical courses, we will become more aware of areas where AI can be particularly useful. 

While AI is and will continue to be a valuable tool in the field, it will not replace the role of mechanical engineers. My classmate Mostafa pointed out that AI operates based on existing knowledge found on the internet. This means that mechanical engineers will still be responsible for generating new, innovative ideas and AI will assist in making those ideas come to life. 

The professor’s interview reflection: 

According to Dr. Mostafa Youssef, professor of Engineering Materials, AI is expected to significantly influence mechanical engineering over the next 5-10 years, particularly through the enhancement of routine tasks.

He expanded on the topic by mentioning that many jobs that currently require extensive time and effort will likely be automated with specialized AI tools designed for specific subfields within mechanical engineering. This shift means that engineers will spend less time on mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work, which AI would not be able to do.

“Everything that can be automated will easily be transformed to become AI based.”

One of the most notable areas of impact is in Material Design. Currently, engineers consult various databases to determine how to compose materials for specific properties. With specialized AI tools, this process can be streamlined, as AI can analyze data and propose optimal material compositions efficiently. This saves time and enhances the accuracy of material selection, however, takes a lot from the engineer’s job.

While this might sound nice at first, one must not be fooled, since this means that the academic curricula for mechanical engineering will undergo significant changes. The focus of training engineering students might shift from traditional job performance to teaching them how to effectively use and control AI tools. As a result, engineering curricula could be re-evaluated to emphasize fundamental concepts and AI proficiency rather than elaborate theories that may become less relevant in a more automated environment.

“This poses some questions regarding the curriculum of engineering courses, is it still necessary to teach students to learn elaborate theories about material designs or is it necessary to re-think these curricula and rather focus on few fundamental basics and then teach students and engineers to use the tools to apply these basics?”

Dr. Youssef assures, however, that despite the capabilities of AI, human judgment will remain forever crucial in the engineering process. Because while AI can make long tasks take a shorter time, engineers must critically assess AI-generated solutions to ensure their validity, applicability and usefulness. This oversight is vital, as AI can sometimes malfunction or produce misleading results, making human judgement very vital in evaluating the outcomes that are produced by AI.

Appendix: 

Dr. Mostafa’s interview, What he said Word for Word:

How do you see AI influencing the field of mechanical engineering in the next 5-10 years?

–   I am talking specifically in a sub field of mechanical engineering, I cannot talk for the whole profession

–   There are many impacts for AI

–   Many of the demanding jobs people spend a lot of time on today, will definitely be eliminated – you can prompt an AI tool – not a generic one but a dedicated AI tool to each subfield and this sub field compromised AI tool will be able to give very specific and informative answers on elaborate questions and performance

–   Designing a material for certain properties, right now we go to data bases of different materials and we start thinking how we can compose them together, with dedicated AI tools that are trained on these data bases, we will ask the question and AI will perform the job for us

–   Definitely we humans still need to be trained, but rather than being trained on how to perform the job, we will be trained on how to use and control AI tools

–   AI tools do hallucinate or malfunction, so we still need human judgement about the result and also expect some answers within the domain of the data set

–   What we train the AI on, it will bring solutions within the training data set, not from outside

–   Engineer needs to be trained in order to be capable of identifying whether the AI generated answers are meaningful and beneficial or not

–   Also, this poses some questions regarding the curriculum of engineering courses, is it still necessary to teach students to learn elaborate theories about material designs or is it necessary to re-think these curricula and rather focus on few fundamental basics and then teach students and engineers to use the tools to apply these basics

–   What the students learn now will definitely be much shorter, or much less, in the upcoming few years and new curriculum will be based on how we prompt the AI, how we can keep asking the questions until we get what we need

–   What specific area for mechanical engineering do you think will be most impacted by AI, It is the mundane, tedious (boring) things, in every aspect. So if design is tedious in the sense that there is a certain recipe that we need to apply on a software package (for example, let’s say you wanna design gear that you might need to 3D print and eventually use in some application), right now we need to open a CAD software and start drawing everything and then maybe start thinking about stresses under which this thing will be working and then decide whether it will fail or not and then you might change your design, so it is an process open for editing and alterations, with AI, many of these details will be eliminated, process will be much faster and easier and even might give us the input we need for the 3D printer so that the 3D printer gives us the final process. Obviously, we still need to review, and do quality checks to ensure what we have produced is useful and usable in application, but then the intermediate process will be completely eliminated the waiting time to finish all these details will be completely eliminated

–   There will remain always creative things that AI will not be able to create, new problems in the sense that they are problems not thought of before and we will need to fundamentally come up with a clever solution that doesn’t exist, then AI will not help in this area

–   Everything that can be automated will be AI based.

Engineer Seif, 2023 AUC MENG graduate 

I couldn’t conduct the interview with him face to face, therefore, I took his answers through Whatsapp. 

-How do you see AI influencing the field of mechanical engineering in the next 5-10 years?

I believe it will take over most of the grinding work and the engineer role will be just to revise its outputs and engineer prompts.

-What specific area of mechanical engineering do you think will be most impacted by AI?

All aspects from Materials and Manufacturing all the way up to Design as it already taking place search for generative design, and you will be shocked. Also, when it comes to industrial engineering it will be of great help in optimizing global supply chains and logistics.

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ChatGPT: 

What are ways that AI will be used in mechanical engineering? 

AI will be used in mechanical engineering in various ways, enhancing processes and driving innovation. Here are some key applications:

1. Generative Design: AI algorithms can generate optimized design alternatives based on specified parameters and constraints, allowing engineers to explore innovative solutions and improve performance.
2. Predictive Maintenance: AI can analyze data from sensors in machinery to predict when maintenance is needed, reducing downtime and preventing costly failures by addressing issues before they occur.
3. Robotics and Automation: AI enhances the capabilities of robots in manufacturing and assembly, allowing for smarter automation that adapts to changes in the production environment and improves efficiency.
4. Simulation and Modeling: AI-driven tools can simulate complex mechanical systems and analyze their behavior under various conditions, helping engineers make informed decisions during the design phase.
5. Smart Manufacturing: AI can optimize production processes by analyzing data in real-time, improving workflow, resource allocation, and overall efficiency in factories.
6. Quality Control: AI can monitor production quality by analyzing images or sensor data, detecting defects in real-time, and ensuring that products meet required standards.
7. Energy Optimization: AI can help design energy-efficient systems by analyzing energy consumption patterns and suggesting improvements to reduce waste and enhance sustainability.
8. Autonomous Systems: AI is crucial in developing autonomous vehicles and drones, where it aids in navigation, obstacle detection, and decision-making in real-time environments.
9. Data Analysis and Decision-Making: AI can process vast amounts of data generated in mechanical systems, providing insights that inform design choices, operational strategies, and performance enhancements.
10. Collaborative Robotics (Cobots): AI enables robots to work alongside human operators, learning from their actions and improving collaboration in tasks that require both human creativity and robotic precision.

These applications demonstrate how AI is set to revolutionize mechanical engineering, making processes more efficient, innovative, and responsive to changing needs.