Inevitable article about the AI revolution
Ah yes, somehow it feels almost inevitable that at some point I would write something about AI. Probably something about how it magically generates content on demand, or how you no longer need artists to create art. And although the steps forward in usability with the wider availability of tools like ChatGPT (large language model) and Midjourney (diffusion model) have made AI appeal to a much larger audience, these ‘innovations’ aren’t necessarily the ones I’m mostly looking forward to.
I feel like not enough people are talking about Iterative Design powered by Artificial Intelligence.
Iterative design in manufacturing involves creating and refining prototypes through successive cycles of testing and improvement. In the past this would involve making a multitude of physical prototypes, testing parameters and tests. Giving feedback on the results so far, and go back to the modelling phase. Things have become a lot more digital since then, of course, and tools allow you to test and review designs before they ever make it into the physical world.
AI can play a pivotal role in this process by enabling rapid data analysis and simulation, significantly shortening the design cycle. With AI's ability to process vast datasets and predict potential outcomes, manufacturers can quickly identify design flaws, potential bottlenecks, and performance issues, leading to more refined and optimized products. You’re be able to get the work done with little to no human effort. Obviously the assumption is that humans will still need to verify the designs, teach the model and define the parameters the AI needs to work with, but it could accelerate the overall product development timeline.
Furthermore, AI enhances collaboration between human designers and machines. Through generative design algorithms, AI can propose innovative design concepts that may not have been explored otherwise. These machine-generated ideas act as inspiration for human designers, basically generating “out-of-the-box” ideas.
The iterative design process also extends to production line optimization. AI-powered algorithms can continuously analyze real-time production data to identify inefficiencies and potential process improvements. By making data-driven adjustments to the manufacturing process, companies can enhance productivity, reduce waste, and boost overall quality.
I think the application of AI in the manufacturing industry is going to be one of the highest impact ones when it comes to the models that we currently have available to us, and I look forward to seeing where it will go. But it’s not the only area that I’m interested to see how AI may upset the status-quo. I’m equally interested in developments in Infrastructure, farming and sustainability (specifically supply-chain and zero-waste) that are sure to come in our lifetime.
To conclude this short article I’d like to also inspire you with a couple of videos that have equally inspired me.
