Thornton Tomasetti brought in two speakers to share their thoughts on AI.
FLYNN MYERS / THE QUADRANGLE
Flynn Myers, Staff Writer
As a part of National Engineers Week, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at Manhattan University held a lecture on Feb. 21 in Leo Hall to discuss the future relationships between structural engineering and artificial intelligence. Thornton Tomasetti, a well-respected structural engineering company, had two speakers present their thoughts and concerns regarding AI and its future collaborations with structural engineering.
The presenters, Robert Otani, the chief technology officer of Thornton Tomasetti, and Seyedomid Sajedi, Ph.D., an associate AI and machine learning engineer for the company, went over how to use AI as a tool rather than a replacement for skills. They shed light on how this can make life easier when applying AI correctly.
AI usage presents many questions due to how integrated it is becoming in day-to-day life, and highlights the idea that technology has become more advanced. Sajedi discussed how their applications to accessing data can speed up processes that usually take a longer amount of time, and how that is beneficial for incoming engineers.
“It’s very important to know what’s happening in the background and what the principles are,” Sajedi said. “But at the same time, we want to minimize the time you spend behind the computer clicking buttons and becoming operator”
Understanding what AI is coming up with and how it is getting its responses is important for engineers to be aware of in order for them to be successful, according to Otani. He emphasized that in order to use AI as a tool, individuals must be smart about it, understanding the behind-the-scenes of the AI response and what code is being applied.
“If you don’t understand what’s going on behind that calculation, that’s dangerous too,” Otani said. “As an engineer you need to know what codes are used, or what physics analysis is being used.”
The lecture continued with discussing the many benefits of using AI in the structural engineering field. They presented the ideas that if AI is used to help workers, it will in turn benefit them.
“We’re still learning this,” Otani said. “That AI can train people faster, get them to a higher level, much faster”.
Some people have raised their concerns and questions about the future of engineering education, due to many of these modern changes. Anirban De, Ph.D., the interim dean of the School of Engineering, expressed his thoughts of the adaptation that engineering students may have to take within the years to come at Manhattan University.
“Manhattan University’s classes have always tried to follow and understand industry trends and the importance of different topics of disciplines that we have covered in our classes that will keep our students relevant,” De said. “The future of engineering definitely looks like AI has a large part in it, and we need to figure out what skills our students need.”
Otani shared his thoughts on what the upcoming education changes may look like in order for future engineers to be prepared for their careers.
“Basic principles of engineering and physics are really important to understand what’s happening behind AI,” Otani said. “But, I also think that understanding, or somewhat understanding, how AI is created is also really important.”