Engineers are tasked with improving everyday life with our technologies. This is a tremendous responsibility. Our work touches the lives of almost all individuals. To fulfill this responsibility, we must imbue certain virtues into our character to ensure our creations are virtuous. Thus, to be a virtuous engineer one must possess the traits of patience, humility, and curiosity.
View More The Virtues of Engineering
Recent breakthroughs in AI have expanded its use to translating endangered Indigenous languages. While it has promising preservation potential, these language technologies highlight the ethical scruples of using AI in cultural preservation. Careful attention is needed to implement AI preservation efforts that respect the sovereignty and cultural values of Indigenous communities.
View More Preserving the Past: AI in Indigenous Language Preservation
Quantum computing is an emerging technology that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to increase computational speed. Transitioning from theoretical research to industry, it has the possibility to propel research. While its power is promising, it poses risks to cybersecurity.
View More Quantum 2.0— The Catalyst for a Cybersecurity Revolution
A slurry of executive orders has led to a massive purging of public health information from the CDC and other federal websites. Thankfully, data-hoarding Redditors have come to the rescue by posting any information they had managed to salvage from these websites. As engineers, if we have the skill set we should follow suit and help with any effort to make this important data accessible to those who need it.
View More CDC Censorship: Engineers to the Rescue of Public Health Data
After taking office, President Donald Trump promised to increase coal combustion to generate power needed for AI data centers. However, new coal plants take time to fire up and are not suitable sources of backup power. Therefore, natural gas and geothermal energy offer the most likely solution to the rising electricity needs of the tech industry.
View More Fossil Fuels vs. Renewable Energy: How to Power the Tech Industry
Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai aims to reach 500 million users for Gemini by the end of 2025. However, both corporate transparency and the current regulatory frameworks struggle to keep up with AI’s rapid deployment. This has prompted a need for engineers to define a balance between responsible development and rapid deployment.
View More Gemini 2025: The Implications of Language Model Arm Race