7 answers
Matthew
Student
Perkasie, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Updated
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How will Ai affect the future of engineering? Will it take over or just enhance it?
Is engineering a good field to go into right now and if so will it still be good in 2029?
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7 answers
Tom McCaffrey
Management
21
Answers
Madison, Mississippi
Updated
Tom’s Answer
Engineers have a bright future ahead. As we discover new ways to analyze things, engineering jobs will keep changing and growing. Think of AI as just another handy tool for engineers. It's important to learn how to use science and AI together to make your work easier, but always double-check the AI's results. The basic knowledge you gain in college and throughout your career as an engineer is priceless.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Software Engineer and Career Mentor
674
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
AI won’t replace engineers, but it will reshape their work by handling repetitive tasks such as calculations and simulations. This improves speed, accuracy, design quality, and cost efficiency, as AI can process large datasets and test multiple solutions quickly. However, it cannot replace human judgment in problem-solving, safety, or ethics, so it remains a supporting tool rather than an independent decision-maker. It also requires human oversight because it can make errors with serious consequences, meaning engineers must still interpret results, verify outputs, apply standards, and manage real-world constraints. As engineering becomes more interdisciplinary, fields like robotics, smart cities, and sustainable energy increasingly rely on AI, but still depend on human control.
Because of this shift, an engineering degree alone is no longer enough, and combining it with strong AI literacy is becoming essential. The real competition is not between AI experts and engineers, but between engineers who adapt and those who don’t. Those who integrate AI into their skills will have a clear advantage. Instead of viewing it as replacement, focus on integration and continuous learning, since the professionals who evolve with these changes will remain the most competitive into 2029 and beyond.
Because of this shift, an engineering degree alone is no longer enough, and combining it with strong AI literacy is becoming essential. The real competition is not between AI experts and engineers, but between engineers who adapt and those who don’t. Those who integrate AI into their skills will have a clear advantage. Instead of viewing it as replacement, focus on integration and continuous learning, since the professionals who evolve with these changes will remain the most competitive into 2029 and beyond.
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
238
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for your interesting and thought provoking query. A historical answer may be in order to provide some context.
The craft of engineering has existed in human society throughout the ages - right from ancient civilizations to our current society. It's boundaries have continuously expanded due to the inguinity of mankind. Step changes in the trade have generally been disruptive. These disruptions have created both challenges and opportunities.
The concept of employment, as we know it today, more or less took shape during the 18th century industrial revolution. Advancement in technology was the main driver of the revolution. It became necessary to have people who would operate and maintain machines in factories. This also shaped how our educational institutions were managed in order to provide a steady flow of the different categories of skilled labor.
Since the second world war, however, technological advancements have been rapid. Automation, robotics and AI have been so disruptive that the content of jobs have evolved quite rapidly. Loss of jobs and unemployment are the adverse impacts we experience.
However, new technology also comes with new opportunities. We still need people to design, construct, operate and maintain the new technology. The required knowledge & skills sets are increasingly higher for the new jobs. Hence, the irreplaceable jobs will always continue to exist - they may be few though.
Business opportunities created by new technology could be the real deal, though. This means that we must now pick up a second and third skill to be able to cope with the ever evolving wealth creation environment. Since COVID 19, for instance, an increasing number of people now work remotely, shop online etc.
The bottom line is that the human mind is irreplaceable. Focusing on optimizing such an asset can enable us to reinvent the concept of employment & education and thus enable more people to get engaged in our supply & value chains. Opportunities for experiential learning could play an important role in this endeavor. This may require reverse engineering the way we learn.
Your qualification as an electrical engineer could be an opportunity for you to shape the future.
Thanks for your interesting and thought provoking query. A historical answer may be in order to provide some context.
The craft of engineering has existed in human society throughout the ages - right from ancient civilizations to our current society. It's boundaries have continuously expanded due to the inguinity of mankind. Step changes in the trade have generally been disruptive. These disruptions have created both challenges and opportunities.
The concept of employment, as we know it today, more or less took shape during the 18th century industrial revolution. Advancement in technology was the main driver of the revolution. It became necessary to have people who would operate and maintain machines in factories. This also shaped how our educational institutions were managed in order to provide a steady flow of the different categories of skilled labor.
Since the second world war, however, technological advancements have been rapid. Automation, robotics and AI have been so disruptive that the content of jobs have evolved quite rapidly. Loss of jobs and unemployment are the adverse impacts we experience.
However, new technology also comes with new opportunities. We still need people to design, construct, operate and maintain the new technology. The required knowledge & skills sets are increasingly higher for the new jobs. Hence, the irreplaceable jobs will always continue to exist - they may be few though.
Business opportunities created by new technology could be the real deal, though. This means that we must now pick up a second and third skill to be able to cope with the ever evolving wealth creation environment. Since COVID 19, for instance, an increasing number of people now work remotely, shop online etc.
The bottom line is that the human mind is irreplaceable. Focusing on optimizing such an asset can enable us to reinvent the concept of employment & education and thus enable more people to get engaged in our supply & value chains. Opportunities for experiential learning could play an important role in this endeavor. This may require reverse engineering the way we learn.
Your qualification as an electrical engineer could be an opportunity for you to shape the future.
Vivekananthi S
Senior Medical Trascriptionist
8
Answers
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Updated
Vivekananthi’s Answer
AI isn’t going to “take over” engineering - it’s going to change how engineers work. Just think of it as an assistant. It can handle repetitive tasks like drafting designs, running simulations, or checking code, which means engineers can focus more on problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making. So instead of replacing engineers, AI will mostly enhance productivity and make the job faster and more efficient. However, engineers who don’t adapt to using AI tools may fall behind.
Engineering is still a very good field to go into right now, and it will likely remain strong in 2029. Areas like software, AI, renewable energy, robotics, and biomedical engineering are growing quickly. The key is to build solid fundamentals and also learn how to work with AI tools. If you stay adaptable and keep learning, engineering will continue to offer good opportunities in the future.
Engineering is still a very good field to go into right now, and it will likely remain strong in 2029. Areas like software, AI, renewable energy, robotics, and biomedical engineering are growing quickly. The key is to build solid fundamentals and also learn how to work with AI tools. If you stay adaptable and keep learning, engineering will continue to offer good opportunities in the future.
Ashish Mishra
Digital Transformation Lead
15
Answers
Gurugram, Haryana, India
Updated
Ashish’s Answer
AI + Engineering in the Future -
AI won’t replace engineers. It will help them work faster and smarter.
Engineers will still be needed to make decisions, solve problems, and check if AI’s ideas are safe and useful.
By 2029, engineering will still be a great career because the world needs people to build things like smart cities, renewable energy systems, robots, and medical devices.
Examples
Civil Engineering: AI can suggest hundreds of bridge designs, but engineers decide which one is safe and affordable.
Mechanical Engineering: AI can predict when a machine will break, but engineers fix it and improve the design.
Biomedical Engineering: AI can help design a new prosthetic leg, but engineers make sure it’s comfortable and works for real people.
In Short, AI is like a super-smart assistant, not a replacement. Engineering is still a safe and exciting career choice, and in 2029 it will be even more important because of technology and sustainability needs. Hope this helps.
AI won’t replace engineers. It will help them work faster and smarter.
Engineers will still be needed to make decisions, solve problems, and check if AI’s ideas are safe and useful.
By 2029, engineering will still be a great career because the world needs people to build things like smart cities, renewable energy systems, robots, and medical devices.
Examples
Civil Engineering: AI can suggest hundreds of bridge designs, but engineers decide which one is safe and affordable.
Mechanical Engineering: AI can predict when a machine will break, but engineers fix it and improve the design.
Biomedical Engineering: AI can help design a new prosthetic leg, but engineers make sure it’s comfortable and works for real people.
In Short, AI is like a super-smart assistant, not a replacement. Engineering is still a safe and exciting career choice, and in 2029 it will be even more important because of technology and sustainability needs. Hope this helps.
Ricardo Chaves
Channel Support Lead
1
Answer
Bogotá, Colombia
Updated
Ricardo’s Answer
Think about what happened when calculators didn’t exist: all calculations had to be done with paper and pencil. Calculators did not replace engineers or scientists, but they did allow them to create better technologies by building on their knowledge. Artificial intelligence plays a very similar role today, and learning how to use it will be a key advantage for the engineer of the future.
I completed my degree in Mechatronics Engineering more than six years ago, and the way technology has evolved since then is incomparable. Today, advancements are much faster and deeper, especially with the arrival of artificial intelligence.
In this context, continuous learning and openness to change become essential. As engineers, AI not only allows us to move faster in solving problems, but also to optimize the time we used to spend on repetitive calculations. This frees up space to develop an increasingly important skill: decision‑making based on analysis.
For this reason, it is not enough to focus only on the technical aspect. With the emergence of AI, it is crucial to strengthen our analytical skills, judgment, and understanding of context. AI does not replace the engineer; it is another tool that enhances their work and expands their impact.
I completed my degree in Mechatronics Engineering more than six years ago, and the way technology has evolved since then is incomparable. Today, advancements are much faster and deeper, especially with the arrival of artificial intelligence.
In this context, continuous learning and openness to change become essential. As engineers, AI not only allows us to move faster in solving problems, but also to optimize the time we used to spend on repetitive calculations. This frees up space to develop an increasingly important skill: decision‑making based on analysis.
For this reason, it is not enough to focus only on the technical aspect. With the emergence of AI, it is crucial to strengthen our analytical skills, judgment, and understanding of context. AI does not replace the engineer; it is another tool that enhances their work and expands their impact.
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
192
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Enhance it. The quick implementation of AI in engineering will allow rapid design scenario testing. You will be able to upload a design, ask for recommended changes, run those models through stress analysis thousands of times over and figure out good design changes early on. It will be able to simulate changes and possibly even make recommendations for design changes. Mechanical engineering will be a field AI will definitely help. Matlab is a connecting between engineering and AI as well.