Ford Motor Company has rehired hundreds of experienced human workers after discovering significant limitations in its automated quality systems, according to a report by The Guardian.
The US automaker found that hundreds of artificial intelligence cameras deployed for design and production checks were highly susceptible to operational errors.
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Over the past three years, Ford has recruited 350 veteran engineers, often called "greybeards," who include former company employees and specialists from various automotive suppliers.
The rehiring initiative comes after a substantial workforce reduction that saw 5,000 fewer employees since 2020 due to increased automation.
"Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it's only as good as the information you use to train it," said Charles Poon, Ford's vice president of vehicle hardware engineering.
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Poon acknowledged that the company had previously neglected the critical insights of its most seasoned staff members, who possess extensive experience across multiple vehicle development timelines.
"Over prior years, we didn't pay as much attention as we should have to the experience of our most knowledgeable engineers that have been with us through many product cycles," Poon said.
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Ford emphasized that while artificial intelligence remains vital for driving quality improvements, the technology must function alongside deep human technical expertise to be effective.
