The AI Impact Timeline: What to Expect
The automation of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist tasks is unfolding across distinct phases. While the broader impact is projected for 2034, the initial ripples of AI integration will be felt much sooner. Routine testing procedures and standard circuit assembly are the first to be affected, with automated test equipment (ATE) and AI diagnostic tools already beginning to replace entry-level functions.
Junior technicians engaged in repetitive testing and assembly tasks are likely to experience the initial wave of automation impact as early as 2030. This period will see a shift in demand towards more advanced skill sets, as AI takes over more predictable and standardized components of the job.
As we move towards the mid-to-late stages of this decade, the automation will become more sophisticated. While the executive summary doesn't provide a specific mid-wave percentage, it's implied that the 45% automation figure will be achieved through the integration of robotic assembly and advanced automated testing platforms, impacting a wider range of tasks.