In 2015, the stage was set for the AI boom—computing power, data, and code infrastructure had all reached a critical mass, enabling programmers, backed by visionary leaders, to develop countless AI tools. These tools have revolutionized both everyday life with virtual assistants, recommendation systems, and facial recognition, and various professional fields with domain-specific tools, resulting in significant financial rewards. Harvey transformed law, ChatGPT redefined copywriting, and Aidoc revolutionized radiology. During this time, we mechanical engineers (MEs)—at least the forward-thinking among us—were eagerly anticipating similar breakthroughs in our field. We wondered, "When will AI for MEs finally arrive?" Yet, year after year, while other domains experienced nonlinear leaps, we were left waiting. Several tools emerged, claiming to be the AI-assisted design (AIAD) solution for MEs, but none truly delivered, did they?

1. Zoo - For those outside our field, Zoo might seem like the holy grail of AIAD—a system where a human describes a part, and the machine turns it into a BREP object. Sounds amazing, right? However, nearly every ME will tell you otherwise. The issue lies in what I call the "info density pyramid." To describe a physical object like a chair, one BREP file can represent it in 3D. Alternatively, we could use three 2D sketches (top, left, front) or 100 words to describe it. Words contain far less information compared to 2D images, which in turn are less dense than 3D objects. Most MEs would prefer to design the chair themselves in SolidWorks or AutoCAD, maintaining full control over the output and achieving faster results. Zoo seems like a tool designed by non-MEs with an outsider's perspective on AIAD. Without a clear understanding of their intentions, it appears this product wasn't designed with MEs in mind.

- Rank: 2/5 gears.

2. CADScribe - CADScribe similarly aims to revolutionize CAD by allowing users to generate 3D models from simple text descriptions. While this concept sounds groundbreaking, the reality is more complex. CADScribe currently handles basic shapes but struggles with complex geometries, often resulting in errors. This limitation stems from the challenge of translating detailed engineering concepts into text, which lacks the precision and richness of traditional CAD methods. Despite its impressive rapid model generation, most mechanical engineers still rely on the control and detail offered by software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. CADScribe feels like an early-stage innovation rather than a fully developed solution for professional engineers. Features like API access and model parametrization are still in development, making CADScribe ill-equipped to handle the rigorous demands of engineering projects. While it represents a step towards more intuitive design processes, CADScribe highlights the gap between AI's potential and its practical application in mechanical engineering.

- Rank: 3/5 gears—largely due to its nicer UI.

3. Foundation LLM - Foundation LLM positions itself as the "AI Copilot for Design & Manufacturing," promising to seamlessly integrate AI into the engineering workflow by automating repetitive tasks, optimizing design processes, and providing intelligent suggestions. Unlike other AI tools that focus on generating models from text, Foundation LLM emphasizes its capability to assist throughout the entire design and manufacturing cycle, including tasks like material selection, stress analysis, and predictive maintenance. However, the reality often falls short of these ambitious claims. While Foundation LLM offers some automation and optimization features, integration is not always as smooth as advertised. Engineers frequently encounter compatibility issues with existing CAD software, and the AI's suggestions can sometimes lack the contextual understanding needed for complex engineering problems. The tool's promise of a comprehensive AI-driven design assistant remains largely aspirational, as many of its advanced features are still in development or require significant refinement. Thus, while Foundation LLM represents a step towards more intelligent engineering tools, it currently exemplifies the gap between AI's potential and the practical demands of design and manufacturing.

- Rank: 2.5/5 gears.

4. Bernini - Bernini, by Autodesk AI, appears promising online but is not yet practical for everyday use. The tool claims to generate single body parts of an assembly, which, while not the most useful for many engineers, represents a significant leap towards a business-critical AI-aided design (AIAD) tool. Autodesk markets Bernini as the "AI Copilot for Design & Manufacturing," aiming to revolutionize the 3D modeling process by generating functional 3D shapes from inputs like text, images, and point clouds. However, these claims are largely aspirational for now. The project is still in its experimental phase and primarily serves as a research prototype, facing significant hurdles such as the need for extensive high-quality data and a more sophisticated user interface. As mechanical engineers, we value results more than words.

- Rank: 2/5 gears, until it proves itself in practical use.

For some of us, this long wait has turned into frustration. We are still searching for the AIAD that will become a natural extension of our minds, similar to CAD—just more efficient, or at least something that can save us from tedious and repetitive tasks like searching for parts, making standard modifications to our CAD parts and assemblies, generating drawings, and handling additional documentation. But one thing is clear: AI is here to stay. The race to AIAD is on, and it’s heating up. It's only a matter of time until AIAD tools that truly meet our needs will be in our hands.

References

[1] Marr, B. (2018). The Key Definitions Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) That Explain Its Importance. Forbes.

[2] 3Printr.com. (2023). AI in 3D Printing: Current Applications and Future Potential.

[3] Fabbaloo. (2023). The State of AI in 3D Printing and CAD.

[4] Autodesk Research. (2023). Bernini: AI-Powered 3D Modeling.

[5] Engineering.com. (2023). Autodesk's AI Copilot for Design & Manufacturing: A Game-Changer?