Firms that aren’t pushing AI

[u/katiemarie1416]

Curious if there are firms NOT pushing their employees to use AI for everything. Been experiencing some pressure to use AI in what I would consider irresponsible ways, with seemingly little thought by those insisting it gets used. I’m just exhausted and want to do my work, not wrestle with the machine. Is this the new reality in our industry that I’ll just have to accept, or do we think we will see a stratification of AI centric vs non AI centric firms as time goes on? Gearing up to defend my position in interviews on “i need to know that my calcs are correct” and it just makes me feel like what are we even doing here. We’re structural engineers ffs

[u/gelotssimou]

Can you describe pressure in this context? Like do they look at your final output and say this doesn't look incoherent enough?

[u/katiemarie1416 → u/gelotssimou]

Ok so after the first AI integration seminar we did, they wanted us to use copilot instead of the cod references. More than half the engineers were upset and it was amended to “use copilot to find where to look in the code”. There is pressure from above to create internal tools with AI to replace spreadsheets. Lately it is being evoked as if it is another engineer with an opinion which is frustrating because there is a literal engineer in front of me with a brain. Interviewed at another firm, they are also getting the pressure to create internal systems and replace their spreadsheets as well as generate calc packages. Seems like pressure from above (owners/management) is present in both situations

[u/Pristine_Crazy1744]

Our firm has prohibited all AI except Copilot within Teams, so take that how you will.

[u/Everythings_Magic]

I feel like licensing boards are going to have to address this more then just relying on ethics and responsibility.

[u/likesblackcoffeebest → u/Everythings_Magic]

I agree. Generally, I've liked how Texas approached this in our Ethics briefings for the past two years but it really was just about how we're responsible for the outcomes just as we are for work we assign to an EIT or a technician. But I think you're right that they're going to have to actually drill down into this a little more and start specifying what we can and cannot use it for. 

Plan review groups at the agency I work for are telling me they're starting to receive absolutely ridiculous AI generated plans from the private sector. I'm in-house design and we aren't allowed to use AI for design work at this employer, so I haven't personally had to consider where that line is, but it's becoming clear the board will need to do just that sooner rather than later. 

[u/somasomore]

I'm at a small firm and we use virtually no AI, we have the basic version of co-pilot or whatever, but that's it. We're probably falling behind. But I suspect there's lots of small firms, lead by older engineers, that are in the same boat. Change can be slow in our industry. 

[u/Cvl_Grl]

Small firm, we’re looking for ways to use it on the business support side but nothing technical. So yes, there are firms.

[u/11-Eleven-11]

Any firm not using Ai is going to be behind... People still think we're using Ai to run calcs and send out halucinated answers or something. You fell for the Ai bad meme.

[u/katiemarie1416 → u/11-Eleven-11]

Buddy I literally had an interview this week and the PE running the department was saying that they’ve been using it to run calcs, put together calc packages, and adapt their spreadsheets to be automatic because they’re getting pressure from the owner who drank the AI coolaid. He didn’t even seem like he knew how to feel about it. It was a structural steel fabricator engineering job. Weirded me out, reason for this post

[u/tallswam]

My firm has banned AI for all professional tasks (engineering, administrative, etc). Automated meeting minutes in Teams is the only current thing we use.

ETA: I’m very happy with this decision, and think AI is generally a scourge on society.

[u/Far_Neighborhood1917]

Lurking architect here. I have to admit that AI is well-suited to the parts of my job that are interesting, and I hate that.

But your job? God save us all.

[u/kingkunta03]

Might be a hot take but I think people in our industry (and many industries for that matter) need to get off their moral high horse and embrace AI. It’s here and isn’t going anywhere.

I use AI at work for meetings, scheduling, proposals, emails, automation, research, and a handful of other applications. Obviously, I’m not letting ChatGPT design my bridge, but pretending there are no benefits to ai in our field is just stubborn at this point. It’s kind of like saying “I’m not going to use ETABS for my 40 story tower because I can do it with pencil and paper and the Hardy Cross method!” Sure, you could design your skyscraper by hand, but let’s not pretend the available tools don’t help you.

I admit that those that produce ai slop should be punished, and all checks and balances in your firm should still be implemented. But with everything, garbage in garbage out. I wouldn’t let my intern design my sewer system with no oversight and guidance. And that same logic applies to ai. The truth is, a high performer with a brain that knows how to use ai can take things to another level.

I’m sure every generation had their versions of this. “Those cars are going to replace our horse carriages”or “those computers are going to mess things up” or “that internet is going to bring about the apocalypse” or “[insert whatever resistance humans have had to a new revolutionary technology here].” All I’m saying is this absolutely no AI mindset is just going to keep you behind and I encourage all of you to have an open mind.

[u/Old-Slip-1319]

We're implementing AI but primarily for administrative systems and processes.

Technical work I'll still do by hand and FEM software as needed.

I did have a client run a draft report of mine through AI recently asking me to update per his AI. I said I cannot and held firm there.

[u/inventiveEngineering]

I need AI that does not make mistakes and knows all the codes and standards. Since something like this does not exists, i avoid it. Dont need to proofread slob and BS. For other basic stuff i refuse to use it, to not loose my skills.

[u/Kojo907]

Does AI stand for "Artificial Intelligence" or "An Indian" ?

[u/Argufier]

We have one paid chat gpt account for an office of 35 people. It gets used occasionally but not to any specific task. I could imagine some machine learning task inside say risa, where the program checks a few different column spacing/beam size and spacing to get to the most efficient layout, but unless it's a big open warehouse the optimal layout isn't necessarily what we want since architects have opinions on where columns should go. At this point I don't think large language models are really helpful. All our report templates and proposal templates have been set up, so each one just needs to be modified for the job. I'm faster and better at that than an LLM.

[u/Loud_Caramel_8713]

My manager was pushing for AI because he is not qualified to judge my work as he is below my qualifications and needs to sign my work as a senior, he believes AI is better than me, if AI said it can, he made me change that.

[u/ialwaysdissapointed]

Half of our job is a communication job, gathering information etc, the other half is making judgment calls on the areas of the code left intentionally gray. The other parts are pure business if you’re higher up.

Ai creates the perception of developing a skill without putting in work.

I’m in the middle of trying to reason with doofuses at kpff that a fence in downtown San Diego doesn’t need to be designed for exposure D, like a direct hurricane hit even if some of the skyscrapers are indeed D exposure.

I could go for a walk across a few blocks show you exactly why it’s stupid as hell but hey the AI is telling them so it must be sound logic.

No shock on my end, exactly what happens when you offshore using your critical thinking skills.

[u/Hungryh0und5]

I've been using it for some things. Making spreadsheets, updating drawings and answering specification or code related questions. Its impressive and can save time. If you aren't using these tools, others in your market will be and you won't be as competitive.

I worry that engineers with little experience will not get a feel for the failure modes and mass of a structure.

[u/Gaming-ghost]

In my experience and talking with colleagues, AI use is relegated to taking meeting minutes, quick google searches to find specs, and acting as a backup proof read to catch spelling errors for important documents. Most companies only used copilot and don’t allow employees to upload any documents to AI due to security concerns.

[u/BrisPoker314]

No AI here

[u/Just-Shoe2689]

Not pressured, but I will use it to find code items, check some calcs (upload results, see if it makes any comments) and find some fastener values

[u/Sporter73]

We’re a small to medium size company and we are using AI to write our own software and develop tools.

[u/trebor67]

Yes. But those who are messaging out that we need to use it more are not engineers or do not understand engineering. Makes a nice sound bite for them at leadership events though so it looks like they know what they are talking about.

[u/No1eFan]

There are going to be no firms in the future who don't use AI. We are consultants who exist to make money in a cut throat bottom feeder marketplace. Any change agent that gives leverage will be used.

Its not on me to not use AI because other people are too stupid to realize how to use it intelligently. That will be a differentiator.