Shaping AI’s sustainable future
Engineers who use the power of AI to create technical solutions have a responsibility to play a part in how it is applied and its implications for society, says president Dr Gopichand Katragadda.
As I look back on my term as president for 2023-2024, I am proud of the strides we have made in championing the role of AI in engineering and its potential to shape a resilient future. The event in London last year to mark the start of my year in office, ‘Engineers and Artificial Intelligence: The key to delivering a resilient future’, was not just a one-off discussion but the beginning of an ongoing and committed dialogue on the ethical and practical implications of AI.
One of the cornerstones of my presidency has been the interactive ‘President’s AI Roadshow’, a series of virtual events designed to engage with members and non-members alike. These events facilitated crucial discussions on AI ethics and engineering governance, emphasising the importance of integrating ethical practices into AI development. By bringing these conversations to the forefront, we aim to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, addressing both their positive and negative impacts on society.
Throughout the year, we have engaged with a wide audience, from policymakers to engineers, through various media platforms. Our consumer research on AI revealed public concerns and daily usage patterns, which were highlighted during the UK government’s AI Safety Summit and attracted the attention of national news media. This provided a platform for us to advocate for necessary regulations and share insights on AI’s future.
Our efforts have extended beyond the UK, with significant activities around the world, including in the UAE, Hong Kong and India. My presidency generated great interest in India in particular, where I was able to highlight the future of the country’s technology landscape and the importance of deep-tech investment through a series of interviews, thought leadership articles and other media engagements.
AI is at a pivotal point, akin to where the internet was in the early 1990s. Its potential to transform every aspect of life is immense, offering solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change to resource scarcity. Engineers have a crucial role to play, not only in developing these technologies but also in educating the public about their capabilities and limitations.
A significant focus of our discussions has been the promotion of equality, diversity, and inclusion in AI. By ensuring diverse data practices and inclusive AI development, we can create technologies that are fair and beneficial to all sectors of society. AI is destined to play a central role in everyday life. The engineers who will be responsible for designing, delivering and using it have a responsibility to explore how they can uphold high standards. We need to address societal challenges, emphasising the importance of data and AI in governance and ethics.
As a society, we’re facing some of our greatest challenges. Finding solutions that are sustainable and robust – whether or not they are based on AI – will require innovative ideas. Achieving this by helping to share and discuss knowledge has been a cornerstone of our activities for more than 150 years. Today, we’re at the forefront of using that as a platform to connect engineers and technicians from across the globe to share insights, challenge norms and contribute to shaping the future.
As my term concludes, I am confident that we will continue to drive forward-thinking discussions and initiatives around AI. The integration of AI in engineering is not just about technological advancement but about creating a resilient and equitable future for all.
Thank you to all members, partners and participants who are contributing to this journey. Together, we are engineering a better world.