THE AI INTERVIEW
grandkids will be able to understand because it is an open standard.”
However, standards alone are not enough. Engineers also need open APIs that allow them to extract and move their own information freely.
Julien goes further, arguing that AI agents must be able to connect to infrastructure data through open protocols:“ Open source, open APIs and open standards are the three legs of a truly open approach. For infrastructure, where a lot of it is commissioned by public money, this should be a strong mandate from governments and policy makers.”
The engineer of the future Asked what becomes of the civil engineer as AI takes on more routine work, Julien states:“ I really see the role of civil engineers becoming an orchestrator, where you create a team of AI agents doing specific parts of the workflow and you remain the one taking the important decisions.”
The pipeline of engineers coming out of universities is already insufficient to meet demand. AI, in this context, is a means of bridging that gap.
“ Engineers will be able to do much more meaningful and rewarding work, applying their human intelligence to infrastructure decisions for more impactful outcomes,” Julien concludes.“ I don’ t see AI replacing engineers. I see it helping them do a more rewarding job.”
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