Using AI tells me very little about the quality of someone’s work. A calculator can give you the right total for a quote that leaves out half the job. A correct calculation based on the wrong assumptions can lead to a bad decision. Doing the maths by hand wouldn’t fix that.
Same with CAD. A neat model alone isn’t much use if the part can’t be made with the tools available, or bends when it’s put to work. The designer has to know the material and the load. AI saves us work too, but it adds a catch: it can make up facts and give you an explanation that sounds right. With a calculator, I check the inputs and the formula. With AI, I also have to check whether the answer itself holds up.
Let AI write the code, then test it with real data and check what happens when something fails. Let it draft a quote, then make sure the scope and promises match what you can deliver. You’re the one sending it to the customer. Use AI to do more of the work, and own what you ship.