Workshop: AI for Engineers (AIW-ENG50)

This workshop is designed for engineers who want to use AI tools to work more efficiently across the non-technical sides of their work. No technical background in AI is required. Participants will learn how to apply AI to the tasks that sit alongside the engineering work itself: drafting technical reports and specifications, summarizing standards and reference documents, communicating with clients and contractors, and preparing project documentation. The course is tool-agnostic and can be delivered using whichever AI platform your organization already uses, including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or Gemini. Examples throughout the course are drawn from real engineering workflows.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to use AI tools with confidence to support their everyday engineering work. The workshop closes with a hands-on case study that walks through a realistic engineering scenario from start to finish. Case studies can be customized to reflect your organization's project types, sectors, and workflows. This course is taught from a tool-usage perspective and does not cover engineering calculations, structural analysis, code compliance, or any task requiring the judgment of a licensed professional engineer. Participants should continue to rely on qualified engineers and established standards for all technical and regulatory decisions.

1. AI and the Engineer
   1. What AI tools can and cannot do
   2. How engineers are using AI today
   3. A tour of the AI platform being used in this workshop
2. Writing Effective Prompts for Engineering Work
   1. The anatomy of a strong prompt
   2. Prompting for summarization, drafting, and documentation
   3. Iterating: refining outputs through conversation
3. Responsible Use in an Engineering Context
   1. How hallucinations happen and why they matter in technical work
   2. What AI tools should not be used for in engineering
   3. Building a verification habit for engineering outputs
4. AI for Engineering Workflows
   1. Drafting and editing technical reports and project documentation
   2. Summarizing standards, specifications, and reference materials
   3. Writing and refining client and contractor communications
   4. Brainstorming approaches, constraints, and project considerations
5. Case Study: AI in Action for Engineers
   1. Scenario overview and objectives
   2. Applying prompting techniques to an engineering workflow
   3. Reviewing, verifying, and refining AI outputs
   4. Discussion: adapting this approach to your organization

Each student receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all class examples.