Among the biggest concerns about AI in the engineering world are the risks of data privacy breaches and a gradual erosion of critical thinking.
Some engineers argue as AI becomes more pervasive, over‑reliance on it may erode critical‑thinking skills.
There is a risk of “taking intellectual shortcuts” and while that isn’t always a bad thing (depending on the task), it might be a behaviour to monitor, suggests Simon Diemert, vice-president of engineering, Critical Systems Labs in Vancouver.
Could chronic use of AI over time result in the atrophy of important skills? Diemert asks.
But the engineer, who calls himself “a reasonably informed practitioner” and incorporates AI into systems, says it can also support critical thinking processes.
“If you are using it for brainstorming…to make prototypes and express thinking in a rapid iteration design activity…It’s just about developing ideas.”
Diemert adds another concern is using AI for something the engineer isn’t competent at doing.
“So I’m a software engineer and just because I can find an AI model that knows how to design bridges, doesn’t mean I should suddenly switch my business to designing bridges.”
Fears of data privacy breaches are top of mind for many engineers and a reason that could limit its use. “In my engineering practice, when we have confidential data, as we often do, it doesn’t go into AI systems that we can’t control (on the company’s server).”
Large firms with dedicated IT departments can vet third party systems for confidentiality controls now but many engineering companies don’t have the budget for that in-house expertise.
But he speculates over time “enterprise-grade solutions” with “extra privacy protection” will grow as demand increases.
“It’s not a fundamentally new issue we’re dealing with in engineering because as long as we have had Cloud systems (invoice management, for example) we’ve had to ask those questions.”
Registered with Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (EGBC), Diemert sees the benefit of the EGBC’s practice advisory on AI.
“Being really clear about the implications of using these tools in professional practice and generating awareness about AI is at this point in time what the regulators can do in this space.”
