The engineer at the center of innovation: AI and creativity are not in conflict

In engineering and design, artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it is already a reality. And like any disruptive change, it brings doubts, enthusiasm, new questions, and above all new opportunities. The real question is: are we ready to seize them?

A recent article published by Business Insider reports statements from Jeetu Patel, Chief Product Officer at Cisco, highlighting two skills that are still largely underestimated and will become increasingly central for future engineers:

• the ability to orchestrate work between intelligent agents

• the quality of ideas

👉 Read the full article on Business Insider

Patel clearly states that AI will not replace engineers—it will enhance them. At CHORA, we fully agree.

Artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering: what is happening today

Artificial intelligence is already having a tangible impact on mechanical design, driven by the introduction of advanced and highly specialized tools. One notable example is Leo.AI, a platform designed as an intelligent copilot to support engineers throughout the design process. Its core is a proprietary model trained on millions of real component datasets, enabling it to recognize and manage complex CAD elements such as screws, gears, nuts, and more.

Key features include automatic generation of optimized 3D models from sketches, text, or specifications, contextual answers to technical questions, advanced engineering calculations, component suggestions from internal or external databases, and direct integration with major CAD platforms.

A real transformation is already underway.

Major players in 3D mechanical design have not stood still either. Autodesk Fusion 360 is strongly investing in AI, integrating it across multiple stages of the design workflow. From our perspective, one of the most interesting features is Generative Design AI, which automatically explores optimized solutions based on materials, cost, and manufacturing methods. Other tools, such as AutoConstrain and Automated Drawings, further automate sketch constraints and the generation of complete technical drawings.

Technology does not replace engineering judgment

These tools are powerful, impressive, and in some ways futuristic. However, they do not—and will not for a long time—remove the engineer from the center of the design process. As Jeetu Patel also emphasizes

AI acts as a productivity multiplier: it automates repetitive tasks and frees up time for what truly matters—deep technical work. Still, it is the human engineer who defines direction, interprets constraints, and generates genuinely innovative solutions.

AI can suggest configurations, but it cannot imagine unconventional ideas, interpret implicit customer needs, or negotiate functional compromises between what is desirable, manufacturable, and sustainable.

Anyone working in an engineering office knows that these situations are the norm, not the exception. Balancing customer requirements, regulations, production timelines, and technological limits requires judgment, experience, and critical thinking.

In short: machines can suggest, but they cannot decide. And in a world where informed decision-making is increasingly valuable, the engineer’s role as a problem solver becomes even more central.

How we experience this change at CHORA

At CHORA, we approach this transformation with enthusiasm and curiosity. We have already integrated AI tools into our workflows, particularly for:

• rapid analysis of technical documentation

• generation of early-stage concepts

• quick validation of design solutions

The goal is not to replace engineers, but to amplify their capabilities—speeding up operational tasks and leaving more room for technical reasoning and solution quality.

We are also learning continuously. Every day we test new approaches, assess AI-generated responses, identify limitations, and explore areas for improvement. It is an ongoing process made of experimentation, mistakes, and valuable discoveries.

The future belongs to those who ask the right questions

We fully share Jeetu Patel’s vision: the added value of future engineers will not lie in execution alone—coding, modeling, or drafting—but in their ability to think critically, systemically, and creatively.

The real power will not be in having all the answers—algorithms can already provide many of them—but in asking the right questions. Questions that open possibilities, shift focus from “what” to “why” and “how,” and push design beyond already-known solutions.

As AI becomes increasingly accessible, competitive advantage will not depend on how well one uses AI, but on what can be achieved with AI as a partner. Those who can connect disciplines, combine human expertise with digital capabilities, and orchestrate hybrid teams of people and intelligent agents will solve complex problems faster and more effectively.

This applies not only to large corporations, but also—and especially—to engineering firms, R&D teams, and SMEs, which now have the opportunity to enhance their human capital through increasingly powerful tools.

Because even in the age of AI, progress is driven by those who imagine, connect, and decide. And in this, the engineer—the true designer of solutions—will continue to play a central role. Not only today, but even more so tomorrow.