Working-with-AI Fundamentals
Use this page to revise the fundamentals of using AI tools in engineering work.
Using AI tools responsibly
- Assistants generate a plausible answer, not a guaranteed-correct one — output must be checked, especially pinouts, voltages, and register maps.
- Good prompting gives context (board, language, constraints) and treats the first response as a draft.
- Watch for hallucinations, outdated SDKs, and unsafe wiring advice.
- Responsible use: no secrets in prompts, follow organisational policy, keep a human in the loop for safety-sensitive changes.
Starting Points
- LeMaire, C., & Abshire, B. (2025). AI for Everyday IT: Accelerate Workplace Productivity. Manning.
- Working with AI
- Responsible Use of AI
Key Points
- You can explain how AI assistants differ from traditional automation.
- You can list the elements of a well-structured prompt (context, task, constraints, examples).
- You can name common limitations (hallucinations, outdated knowledge, unsafe hardware suggestions) and what responsible use requires.