Let’s Talk About Feelings…

Are you scared yet?  Ask my kids and my significant other, this is my favorite thing to talk about these days.  But, this is our superpower.  We are at a unique point in time.  A precipice of ingenuity.  In just two short years, AI has infiltrated everything in our lives.  We’re developing cute graphics that are customized to us and make us look more fun and attractive.  Claude sends us daily spam mail about how we need them.  Meeting minutes are in our inbox less than a minute after the meeting is over thanks to AI. A colleague sends five pages of action items that put a 2000’s teacher’s pet to shame.  Also, now that I type and read that, that term is weird and was probably created by a 60 year old professor crushing on a student back in the day.  Gross.  Sorry about that.  We are growing in all ways.

From a professional standpoint, I’ve noticed that people just don’t want to talk about AI.  But I feel we are at this point in time where we have to embrace new technology or we will be left in the dust.  Remember when AutoCAD rolled out?  We are there again…but in a bigger way.  Do you see anyone submitting hand drawings for permit these days?  No, you can’t be profitable without embracing new technology.  And that’s exactly where we are heading with AI.  We need to get on board or we will be left behind.  Instead of computer aided design we are at artificial intelligence aided design.  Larger engineering firms have full departments focused on developing and curating in house AI software. However, we are not getting replaced.  Licensing boards require licensure and have control over who gets licensed.  We have to go through school, practice under a HUMAN professional for years and then sit for the exam.  Robots not allowed for this part.  This isn’t changing anytime soon, my friend. 

So what if we tip-toe into AI??  Both AIA and ASCE give us some guidance on this: AIA Guidance for the Responsible Use of AI by Architecture and Design Firms and ASCE Policy Statement 573. We can use AI to our advantage, to be more efficient and productive.  It is our personal assistant.  And both AIA and ASCE documents reference our Professional Judgement.  Yes, your experience is very very important, necessary and ethically required.  AI does not have professional judgement.  You do.  And it’s important. 

To take this a step further: I typed “Does AI have feelings” into a chat bot and here’s what I got back “No, AI does not have feelings; it can simulate emotional responses but lacks subjective experience or consciousness.”  And “purely simulation based on statistical patterns and algorithms”

And guess what?  Humans have an innate desire to feel seen and heard.  AI can’t do that.  So, feelings are your super power.  And now more than ever, we need to lean into client relationships and listening.  Our clients expect technical competency.  That’s the benchmark.  Beyond that, they work with whom they connect with.  Who they enjoy working with.  Who listens to their concerns, dreams and desires.  Who realizes that it’s their birthday.  Who does what they say they are going to do and reassures them that it’s all going to work out. Trust is very important and derives from feelings and intuition, both of which are innately human.

So you’re not going away from the workforce anytime soon.  As engineers, AI should be exciting!  We love analytically figuring things out.   And this is the most amazing technology ever.  We are the critical thinkers that are needed to use, train and harness this technology.  The world needs your brain for this but the world also needs your heart to exemplify that human connection can never be replaced by a robot.

Much love and ALLLLL the feelings from this structural engineer to the rest of the world. 😊