Engineers Harness AI to Inspire Creative Designs, But Ethical Use Requires Transparency

Engineers are starting to use AI image generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to explore more creative designs, such as vehicle parts and space hardware.

The author tested these tools to design a jellyfish robot, learning how to craft effective prompts and iterate on designs.

The unpredictable, abstract images from AI can provide inspiration, even if not realistic, by encouraging new perspectives.

Co-creating with AI is illuminating but requires perseverance as you have little control over the iterations.

Using generative AI ethically can help engineers think differently and design innovative solutions, but transparency and accountability are critical.