Should you still study engineering when AI can already write code, analyse data and automate parts of an engineer's job?

In this solo episode, Neil Ashton gives his view on engineering education and careers in the age of AI. His answer is yes—but the skill set is changing. Neil explains why engineering fundamentals still matter, where AI can act as an enabler, what students and early-career engineers should learn now, and why soft skills, projects and internships may become even more important.

Topics include:

- Why demand for engineers is likely to remain strong

- The engineering tasks most likely to change

- AI as an enabler for coding, CAD, CAE and automation

- Why domain knowledge is still essential for checking AI's work

- What practical AI fluency means beyond using a chat interface

- Advice for undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students

- How projects, internships and soft skills can help you stand out

Podcast archive: https://neilashton.co.uk/podcasts/

Chapters:

00:00 Podcast intro

00:39 The career question in the age of AI

03:20 Why engineering demand is still growing

04:43 Which engineering tasks AI will change

05:21 AI as an engineering enabler

09:18 Why fundamentals and domain expertise still matter

11:59 AI fluency and the hiring market

16:41 Advice for students and researchers

20:05 What engineers should study now

22:11 Standing out: soft skills, projects and internships

25:41 Is engineering still worth it?

Resource mentioned:

- World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025 — Skills outlook: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/in-full/3-skills-outlook/

Please note that this episode expresses my personal opinion and does not represent the views of NVIDIA.