Unfilled Engineering Jobs Cost Businesses

[pauleckler]

AI is indeed being hyped. Especially for investors. I suspect the benefits will be more subtle. They are unlikely to make headlines unless there is a problem.

Its a new phase of old technology that has often disappointed from overly optimistic expectations. I wouldn’t write it off. But don’t over react. Reality is somewhere in the middle.

[buynholdisdead]

@jaagu

Engineers are the ones that always perform the design/analysis of systems, structures, and components to operate efficiently and safely - not technicians.

That is what I told them and you know what they told me? We pay them so we can call them what we want. It’s funny how companies can define a job title anyway they want and put anyone they want into it. I wouldn’t call them Engineers but the company insists on calling them Engineers.

When a job is built around rules, regulations, and mathmatics, well that is exactly in the wheel house of AI. It will be hard for AI to take over jobs that people have to actually physically manipulate an object but sitting in a cubicle, well computers can do that 24 hours a day and on weekends and holidays.

Andy

[jaagu]

@buynholdisdead

That is what I told them and you know what they told me? We pay them so we can call them what we want. It’s funny how companies can define a job title anyway they want and put anyone they want into it. I wouldn’t call them Engineers but the company insists on calling them Engineers.

The engineering profession is not happy with every Tom, Dick and Harry being called an engineer. Garbage collectors are called sanitary engineers, etc.

Technician vs engineer: Differences

While technicians and engineers often work together to successfully complete projects, maintain equipment and ensure safety protocols are being followed, there are several differences between these two professions. The most common differences include:

• Technicians aid engineers with their work, whereas engineers oversee employees and manage projects.
• Technicians draft rough layouts of projects, whereas engineers are responsible for developing projects.
• Technicians are typically only required to have a high school diploma or associate’s degree, whereas engineers are required to have a minimum of bachelor’s degree.
• Engineers base their work around theories of sciences related to their industry, while technicians are more focused on the practical application of these theories as laid out by engineers.
• Engineers are more focused on solving problems, while technicians are more focused on implementing the necessary changes required to solve the problem.
• Engineers often make a higher salary than technicians due to their higher level of education.
• Engineers are the team managers or leaders and oversee the work of technicians and other members of the team.
• Engineers can legally approve project plans related to commerce and public safety. Technicians do not have this authority or ability approve plans.

While engineers and technicians have different responsibilities and levels of experience and authority, they work side-by-side to ensure engineering projects are completed successfully. Engineers rely on technicians to carry out the work of the operations or projects designed by the engineers. In most cases, engineers cannot fulfill their job requirements without the assistance of the technicians on their team.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/technician-vs-engineer#:~:text=An%20engineer%20is%20a%20professional,than%20those%20performed%20by%20technicians.

[Goofyhoofy]

@buynholdisdead

Of course there will always be a need for a few engineers but the majority of the work will be done by AI so that is why I said a big need. Of course everyone that has those jobs think they are the most important in the world but in reality if business can squeeze more profits out of the company they will cut and cut and cut.

I don’t disagree that AI will be able to replace some drone-work engineering, especially as it improves and learns not to make stuff up (hallucinate), but there will always be a need for human invention and drive. AI, to whatever extent, is still trained on the past, and it is unlikely to acquire imagination, at least until the next big revolution in it.

Think Elon Musk transitioning to EVs, Henry Ford thinking about the assembly line, Steve Jobs not trying to make a better flip phone but a whole new category of device.

AI may be able to scan medical X-rays better and faster than a human (and all the other drone work in various fields) but it is still “past tense” limited, so I have hope for humans. Some of them, anyway.