Editor's comment: The impact of intelligence

Judging by the busy aisles I encountered when wandering around MACH this year UK manufacturing looks to be in good health.

There certainly seemed a tangible buzz amongst show visitors about the technology on display and post-show results from exhibitors also indicate that despite difficult economic factors such as high interest rates and energy costs, UK manufacturers are still willing to invest in new manufacturing technology if it brings them competitive benefits.

The MTA’s and Oxford Economics’ timely report on the ‘True Impact of Manufacturing’ also demonstrated the value the sector to the UK economy. According to the report when all additional factors are considered, manufacturing accounts for £518 billion of UK GDP and supports 7.3 million jobs, nearly a quarter of the UK’s entire GDP (23%) and much larger than the narrower definition of 8.2% normally stated by economists.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan visiting the show, also stated how the Government wants to make the UK a “science and technology superpower,” with a focus on how AI could transform manufacturing, which it no doubt will. And certainly, she seemed to be saying all the right things about how the Government could help companies adopt these and other advanced technologies to be more competitive.

My only reservation about all this is when it comes to AI, I think it’s hard to predict anything. The technology seems to be gathering so much momentum and who knows how it will influence manufacturing, and more importantly from my perspective, the people involved in it?

No doubt it will mean we can make things smarter and faster but how will this actually benefit engineers? Will it mean more people are employed or less? Will it mean more job satisfaction working on ideas, designs and advances in products or a universal salary and full-time employment on the beach?

And if AI gets so smart, surely at some point it’s going to outsmart us when it comes to innovation too?

Like all new technologies they can have great benefits but also drawbacks. I think we can all testify to the benefits of social media but also the minefield of hazards.

I applaud the Government’s focus on high-end science and innovation and the opportunities it offers when it comes to manufacturing. I only hope its methods are sound, but sometimes I’m not sure I see any method at all.