Part 1:

In my field of mechanical engineering, I already use AI a lot during my studies. Academically, AI is very helpful for lab reports, especially when writing background information or understanding the theory behind experiments. It also helps me when I do not fully understand a concept or know about a certain machine that I used in the lab ; where it can explain it in a way that is clear and simple. In addition, I use AI  a lot in other courses too, as it is very good at explaining and it is able to solve a large portion of problems or at least guide me toward the correct approach; which makes studying more efficient and helps me understand the steps better. Overall, AI acts like a supportive learning tool that makes complex topics easier to grasp. 

In terms of the professional side, even though I am still a student and do not have full exposure to the workplace yet and have a narrow vision about how the work-life in my field actually looks like. I do believe that AI is probably used to make engineers’ work faster and more efficient. For example, instead of testing everything physically, engineers can use programs that stimulate how a design will behave, and AI can help improve those designs or point out problems. I also think AI can help with analyzing data from machines, especially in factories, to detect issues earlier. In general, I feel like AI will be more of a tool that supports engineers rather than replaces them, especially in tasks that take a lot of time or repetition.

In the near future, I think AI will become even more integrated into mechanical engineering, not replacing engineers but supporting them in making faster, more accurate, and more innovative decisions.  

Part 2:

I used ChatGPT to suggest ways in which AI can be used in my field. Here is my prompt and the link to the answer I received:

 

Prompt: What do you think are ways in which AI can be used in my field (mechanical engineering)?

 

ChatGPT’s answer:

AI can be used in mechanical engineering in several practical ways that improve how engineers design, analyze, and maintain systems.

One major use is in design. AI can generate optimized designs based on given constraints such as weight, strength, and material. Instead of manually trying different ideas, engineers can use AI to quickly explore many design options and choose the most efficient one.

AI is also used in simulation and analysis. It can predict things like stress, temperature distribution, and fluid flow much faster than traditional simulation methods. This helps engineers save time when testing designs and allows for quicker decision-making.

Another important application is predictive maintenance. AI can analyze data from sensors in machines to detect patterns and predict failures before they happen. This helps reduce downtime and maintenance costs in industries that rely on heavy machinery.

In manufacturing, AI improves efficiency and quality. It can optimize production processes, reduce waste, and detect defects in products using image recognition systems. This leads to better product quality and more efficient use of resources.

AI is also used in robotics and automation. It allows machines and robots to perform tasks more intelligently and adapt to changes, rather than just repeating fixed motions. This is especially useful in assembly lines and automated production systems.

Additionally, AI plays a role in developing autonomous systems such as self-driving vehicles and drones, where it helps with navigation, control, and decision-making.

Finally, AI can assist in materials engineering by predicting the properties of new materials and helping engineers discover better alloys or composites more quickly.

Overall, AI helps mechanical engineers work more efficiently, reduce costs, and create more advanced and reliable systems.

 

 Link: https://chatgpt.com/s/t_69ebbde904d48191ba4626616d26000e

 

Part 3:

 

For this part of the assignment, I interviewed doctor Mustafa Arafa and basically asked him about both academic and professional uses of AI. 

 

• From your experience teaching statics and dynamics, how have you seen AI tools being used by students?

Follow-up: Do you think this use is helping their understanding, or sometimes replacing it?

Response: Yes. I have seen the use of AI in solving assignments and sometimes to help students understand concepts. 

It is an additional resource that helps students with understanding.

• How do you think AI is changing the way students learn problem-solving in mechanical engineering courses?

Follow-up: Are there specific skills students might be gaining or losing because of AI?

Response: Yes, definitely! Seeing how a problem can be solved can teach us how we do things.

Students gain problem solving skills, if AI is used wisely. Otherwise, it only helps solving homework problems but does not add knowledge if it is improperly used.

• In your opinion, what are the biggest advantages of using AI in mechanical engineering education?

Follow-up: Can you give a specific example from your teaching experience?

Response: Learning through solved examples and the ability of having a dialogue.

Solving a homework problem, especially when a student has no idea of where to start, or how to approach the problem. Ai also helps engineering students with writing.

• What concerns do you have about students relying on AI in technical subjects like statics and dynamics?

Follow-up: Where do you think the line should be between using AI as a helpful tool and over-relying on it?

Response: Relying too much on the tool and not learning from it, and not checking the results, as AI can sometimes give incorrect answers. It is a fine line, but just like any educational tool: if misused it will lead to negative results.

• Have you personally used AI tools in your teaching or research? If so, how?

Follow-up: Has it changed the way you approach your work?

Response: Yes. I sometimes use AI to give me ideas for quizzes and to help me with illustrations. I also use AI to help me with tedious and repetitive tasks, in addition to research writing and generating ideas.

Yes, it opens my mind to new ways of testing students and new ways of making 3D schematics and illustrations, and even animations.

• Do you think universities should change how they teach courses like statics and dynamics because of AI?

Follow-up: If yes, how would you personally adapt your teaching?

Response:  No, but universities should find ways of embracing AI in teaching statics and dynamics, and encouraging students to use AI tools wisely. 

By allowing students to use AI openly and responsibly.

• How do you see AI influencing the future of mechanical engineering jobs?

Follow-up: Do you think it will change what skills engineers need to have?

Response:  AI will not replace mechanical engineers, but mechanical engineers should be able to use AI in their jobs to automate tedious and repetitive tasks.

Yes, mechanical engineers will still need to use their judgement along with AI tools that help them automate and improve other tasks.

 

 

Part 4:

 

For this part of the assignment, I interviewed my Father who is also a mechanical engineer. I asked him questions that are more about real workplace experience, not teaching.

 

• In your day-to-day work as a mechanical engineer, where do you currently see technology or AI being used, if at all?

Follow-up: Has this changed compared to when you first started your career? 

Response:  As a mechanical engineer, I use AI a lot in my daily work, especially when designing things like steel structures or tools. I often use it for problem-solving and to help visualize and refine designs. For example, If I’m struggling to fully imagine a concept or optimize a design, I can just go ahead and describe exactly what I want to AI; the requirements and intended function of the product I am working on. Then AI suggests ideas, possible shapes, configurations, or improvements that align with my vision. AI is also useful when troubleshooting. If I have already manufactured a component and notice issues such as excessive vibration or concerns about it being able to handle the weight; I can explain the problem details to AI and it would suggest potential causes and solutions. This helps speed up the process of identifying and fixing defects. 

This is very different from when I first started my career. Back then, it took much more time to come up with the right design or fix problems. There was more trial and error, and everything had to be done more manually. Now, AI helps speed things up and make the process easier. 

 

• Can you describe a task in your work that you think could be improved or replaced by AI in the future?

Follow-up: Do you think that would make your work easier or create new challenges?

Response: I think a task that I would like to be improved and even replaced by AI in the future is design calculations. As a mechanical engineer, a lot of time is spent doing detailed calculations to make sure a design is safe and works properly. 

I also think this would make my work easier, because it would save time and reduce effort. This would allow me to focus more on the design ideas and problem-solving instead of spending too much time on calculations.  

 

• How do engineers in your workplace use data or software tools to make decisions?

Follow-up: Do you think AI could improve how these decisions are made?

Response: Engineers use design softwares like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Inventor to help make decisions. These programs are mainly used to draw and create designs, so engineers can see how a part or structure will look and work before making it.

I believe AI can improve how these decisions are made. Since these programs mostly depend on the engineer to design everything manually. But with AI, you can give it inputs like what you want the design to do, and it can directly give outputs and even suggest better ideas or improvements. 

 

•  What are the biggest advantages of using AI or advanced technologies in mechanical engineering work?

Follow-up: Can you give a real example from your experience?

Response: I  believe the biggest advantages of using AI is that it saves time and helps find better solutions faster. It can also help solve problems that

might be hard to figure out manually. A real example from my experience is when I was working on a steel structure platform. After it was manufactured, I noticed that it was vibrating, which meant it was not stable, So, I gave the AI all the details about the design and the problem. AI suggested adding bracing in certain areas. Bracing is basically adding extra support pieces to make the structure stronger and reduce movement or vibration. When I applied this idea in the Inventor program, it actually worked, and the platform became stable.

•  Do you have any concerns about AI in your field, such as job security or over-reliance on technology?

         Follow-up: Have you seen any negative effects so far? 

Response: I think that most of the information that AI gives is useful. Around 80% of it can actually be applied in real work. I do see a lot of advantages in using AI and believe it helps engineers in many ways. 

My only concern is about job security, where I am uncertain of what AI does with the data that I give to it. 

So far, I have not seen any major negative effects. 

• What skills do you think I should focus on as a mechanical engineering student, especially with AI becoming more common?

         Follow-up: Are there skills that you think will always be important no matter how advanced AI becomes? 

Response: I believe that as a mechanical engineering student, you should focus on learning all the basics properly. H also stresses on the fact that I have to develop all the skills required, just like students did in the past 20 years, as if nothing has changed. “In my opinion, you still need to understand everything on a deep level, because AI is just a tool that makes things faster and makes you more efficient as an engineer. However, it does not replace real knowledge.” He thinks it’s very important to fully understand concepts so you can give the right input to AI and get useful results. Also, you need to be able to understand and judge the output that AI gives you. For example, if AI generates a design or drawing, you should be able to read it, understand all the details, and use your engineering sense to decide if it actually makes sense or if it’s not reliable. So, overall, he believes that strong fundamental and critical thinking will always be important, no matter how advanced AI becomes. 

 

Part 5: (Final reflection)

 

After doing both interviews, I realized that a lot of what I expected about AI was somewhat true, but at the same time I was still a bit surprised. I already knew that AI is being used, but I did not expect both my father and Dr. Mustafa Arafa to have such a positive and practical view of it. I thought there might be more resistance, especially from someone who started working long before AI existed. Instead, both of them clearly see AI as something useful and already part of their daily work. 

Another thing that really stood out to me is how similar their answers are, even though one is a professor and the other is in the working industry itself. Both of them kept repeating the same idea: AI is a tool that improves efficiency but does not replace the engineer.  AI might look very powerful, but it is still limited. Both interviewees mentioned the importance of not relying on it too much and always checking the results. This connects to one of the main concerns, which is over-reliance. It is easy to start trusting AI too much because it gives fast and confident answers, but that does not always mean those answers are correct or the best option. So they do confirm that without your engineering sense you will not be able to produce reliable or meaningful results with just AI. However, this also made me realize that AI is not just something I am using as a student right now, but something that will continue with me into my future career as well. 

Personally, this reflection made me feel more confident but also more responsible. It reassured me that I am using AI in a good way right now, especially as a learning tool to understand concepts and guide my thinking. At the same time, it made me realize that I need to be more careful and critical when using it. I should not just accept answers, but actually question them and understand them.

What I think I need to focus on going forward is building a strong foundation in engineering basics. Both my father and Dr. Mustafa emphasized thatnothing has really changed in terms of what an engineer needs to know. AI just makes things faster, but it does not replace knowledge or judgment. So I need to make sure I truly understand what I am studying, so that I can use AI effectively, give it the right input, and evaluate its output.