Professional Engineering Perspectives On LLM Integration

Abstract

This study investigates professional engineer’s perspectives in their respective fields on the use of LLMs in their work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data on participants’ opinions, experiences, and perspectives on LLM integration in their work. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed through cross-case analysis to identify recurring themes and differences between participants. Findings suggest that engineers generally viewed LLMs positively, especially in the field of productivity gains through the automation of tedious tasks. Engineers from multiple fields reportedly used LLMs to improve communication efficiency through presentations and professional correspondence. All participants emphasized concerns regarding the reliability of using LLMs for professional work, stressing the importance of the use of a human to verify the AI outputs. A primary limitation of this study is its small sample size, which limits this study’s generalizability to the entire field of engineering. Despite this, the study provides a basic understanding of the perspectives of professional engineers on LLM integration in engineering workflows.