AI's Impact on Engineering Jobs May Be Different Than Expected

Summary

Key Takeaways: AI is expected to eliminate many repetitive, entry-level tasks, but that may allow engineering students trained on the latest tools to start in more senior positions. AI is a force multiplier. It can accelerate the learning curve for junior engineers. While AI is very good at solving multi-dimensional problems, domain expertise, critical thinking, and sanity checks will remain essential. AI is almost certain to eliminate many entry-level jobs in chip design by automating repetitive and data-intensive tasks, but there is a corresponding expectation that today’s engineering students will be trained using these tools so they can enter the workforce higher up the ladder. Many engineers liken the current era to the Industrial Revolution, which replaced hand tools, or the advent of automobiles replacing horses. An ongoing talent shortage requires more efficient use of engineers, and AI can help. But it’s unclear how widespread or deep the disruptions will be. There are two schools of thought about its impact. “One angle is, I have an established workflow, and I need people who can ask, ‘What in this workflow could be enhanced and/or replaced by an AI?’” said Alexander Petr, senior director at Keysight EDA. “Another group of people needs to say, ‘What if we throw out the whole workflow and retool the whole thing?’ Both have merits. Wherever you go, everything you look at has a certain amount of culture and meaning. People are so accustomed to doing things a certain way that it’s hard to break out. That explains why you have this group that says, ‘Let’s use AI to enhance,’ and you get questions like, ‘Can AI substitute for four people I don’t have?’ Basically, the AI is asked to do the same job as the engineers. The AI is asked to think the same way as the engineers, and it’s asked to create the same output as those engineers. That makes it much harder to achieve than potentially going with the second group, which says, ‘What if I don’t do it the same way as ...