It feels like society has entered the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence is being employed in more and more business processes, and while AI has been part of manufacturing for many years, it’s now assisting in more areas than ever. Tools like ChatGPT and Claude have been given the most public attention over the last few years, but countless programs and applications are using powerful new AI in different ways.
At Polyhistor International, we’ve started to receive CAD models and product specifications that were generated with the help of AI. That is not by itself a problem. In fact, in many cases, AI can be useful in getting you to a starting point.
But these tools in their current form still require careful review. Without proper oversight, AI-generated materials can increase costs unnecessarily or even introduce production issues if problems are not caught early enough.
AI Is Already Useful, But It Should Not Work Alone
To be clear, we are believers in AI’s power. We see it already has practical value in manufacturing, and we expect its capabilities to continue improving. Our shop uses AI in specific areas where it can benefit customers by improving efficiency and helping manage costs.
However, these tools are not yet powerful enough to substitute for human judgment; instead, their output should be reviewed by both an expert manufacturing partner and the user who created it.
Review AI-Generated Designs Before Sending Them
We have seen cases where customers submitted AI-generated CAD models that looked professional at first glance. But when we compared those models with the customer’s written description of the product, the two did not match.
In those situations, the customer had simply prompted AI and trusted the output without review. That creates extra back-and-forth during quoting, because we have to identify where the disconnect came from. From there, it may create delays while a design is revised.
Our recommendation: if you’re using AI, review its output closely to be sure it aligns with your intentions. If a discrepancy is not identified until later, it can lead to bigger issues in cost or timing.
Understand Your Specification
The same principle is true with specifications. As part of our product development services, we have received AI-generated product requirements that were far longer and more detailed than a typical early-stage manufacturing document. The detail may seem helpful, but it can also create problems if the customer does not fully understand what has been included.
For example, an AI-generated specification may introduce requirements the customer did not intend while also leaving out certain important details. Because the document can look authoritative, those issues are not always obvious at first. But they can have a major impact on cost, design hours, and manufacturability in precision machining.
In some cases, these customers have been surprised by our quotes, and in talking to them, we ultimately realized the specification defined a more complex project than they realized.
What To Do Before Submitting an AI-Generated File
Someday, and perhaps even in short order, these tools may become powerful enough to handle tasks like these by themselves. But for now, if you’re using AI in product design, a few simple steps can help you avoid unnecessary issues:
Be transparent about your use of AI. When we know AI was involved, we can pay special attention to common problem areas.
Review your output closely: Make sure the model or specification truly matches your intent. Use a 3D viewer when necessary to confirm that your model is correct before sending it out for a quote.
Watch for features that add unnecessary complexity: AI may generate geometry that looks impressive but is difficult or expensive to manufacture. Sharp internal corners are a common example.
Understand that a 3D model by itself doesn’t fully define a part: Material requirements, tolerances, finishes, and other key details may still need to be clearly established.
If You’re Using AI, We Can Help With Expert Review
AI tools can be useful, but today, the best results still come when AI is paired with reviews from both users and manufacturing experts. If you’re using AI in your design process, let us know. We can help you identify potential issues early and put your project on the path to the best possible outcome.
Request a quote today from our Jacksonville machine shop!