Justin Hatfield, CRL, CMRP
Emerging Technologies Committee Chair
and Marketing & Industry Awareness Committee Member
HECO
Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most talked-about technologies across every industry, including the electromechanical world. Depending on who you listen to, AI is either going to replace engineers and technicians, or it is just another overhyped tech trend. As is often the case, the reality sits somewhere in the middle.
At the 2025 EASA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Devlin Liles of Improving.com presented a grounded, practical look at what AI actually is today, how it is evolving and where it can realistically help organizations like ours. His message was clear: AI is not about replacing people. It is about compressing time and reducing friction in the work we already do. If you missed Devlin’s Nashville presentation, you’ll want to attend his presentation in Orlando, “AI in the Motor Shop: From Individual Tools to Intelligent Systems,” which is scheduled for 9:45 AM on Monday, June 15.
AI Is Not New, But It Is Different
While tools like ChatGPT may feel like they came out of nowhere, the underlying technologies behind AI and machine learning have been developing for decades. What has changed is scale. The explosion of available data and computing power has moved AI from research labs into everyday tools. Global data volumes continue to grow at an extraordinary pace, making AI far more capable today than it was even a few years ago.
This does not mean AI “thinks” the way humans do. AI systems recognize patterns, make predictions and generate output based on data. They do not understand context, intent or accountability. That distinction matters, especially in industries where decisions carry real operational and safety consequences.
The Wingman, Not the Pilot
One of the most useful ways to think about AI is as a wingman, not a pilot. AI can assist, accelerate and suggest, but responsibility always remains with the human. AI excels at dealing with complexity, large volumes of information and repetitive cognitive tasks. It struggles when judgment, ethics or accountability are required.
For EASA members, this means AI is best applied to support engineers, managers and technicians, not replace them. Documentation, summarization, comparison, proposal development, troubleshooting support and internal knowledge searches are all areas where AI can dramatically reduce time spent without removing human oversight.
Picking the Right Problems Matters
A key takeaway from Devlin’s 2025 presentation was that successful AI adoption is less about the tool and more about the problem selected. The best early use cases are tasks that are time-consuming, repetitive and mentally demanding, but not safety-critical.
As a rule of thumb, AI projects should target at least a five- to ten-times improvement in efficiency. If the gain is marginal, it is probably not worth the effort. Starting with off-the-shelf tools and existing software platforms is also critical. Trying to build custom AI solutions too early often creates unnecessary cost and complexity
How to Get Started Without Overthinking It
For individuals and organizations just beginning to explore AI, the approach can be simple. Start by identifying the tasks that take the most time and are the most frustrating. Spend a short amount of time experimenting with AI tools to see if meaningful portions of that work could be automated or accelerated. If it saves time and reduces friction, it is worth sharing with others, so the entire organization can benefit.
The goal is not perfection or deep technical understanding on day one. Even a basic working knowledge can unlock real productivity gains. Over time, those small improvements compound.
A Tool, Not a Threat
AI, like automation before it, is simply another tool. Used thoughtfully, it can make teams more effective, reduce burnout and free up skilled people to focus on higher-value work. Used carelessly, it can introduce risk, misinformation and misplaced confidence.
For EASA members, the opportunity is not to chase trends, but to apply AI deliberately, safely and in ways that strengthen existing expertise. Those who learn how to use it well will not replace their people. They will empower them.
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