Ford rehires ‘gray beard’ engineers after AI falls short

[WI/DS]

https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/28/ford-rehires-gray-beard-engineers-after-ai-falls-short/

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[TomC]

So the company “brought back technical specialists,” and those specialists “hunt for failure points before a part ever reaches the plant floor.”

I sure hope they are starting with the MIC hardtops and BL shock reservoirs.

 

[Area51BS]

So the company “brought back technical specialists,” and those specialists “hunt for failure points before a part ever reaches the plant floor.”

I sure hope they are starting with the MIC hardtops and BL shock reservoirs.

They literally have the shock reservoir problem covered.

 

[Roger123]

Quoted from the article:

"To be clear, this doesn’t mean Ford is abandoning its AI plans entirely. Instead, it’s using the rehired employees — referred to as “gray beard” engineers — to train younger staff and reprogram AI tools."

Once they do that Ford will then be able to fire them again, and the circle of corporate stupidity will repeat, LOL.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Ford, like many other companies, are learning that AI isn't ready to replace people who do even somewhat critical jobs. It is a tool that, left unchecked, will (at least currently) fail to do the job it's intended for and cost more than the employees that were doing said job.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

No worries, guys. Gandalf has it covered.

 

[Jdc]

No worries, guys. Gandalf has it covered.

I heard Ford fired him as a quality checker because he never let anything pass.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

I heard Ford fired him as a quality checker because he never let anything pass.

Unfortunately he's just one Maia and can't be everywhere at once...so stuff is still getting past him.

 

[Lcubed]

No worries, guys. Gandalf has it covered.

that's the nicer, kinder Gandalf the Grey, vs kickass resurrected Gandalf the White

 

[11811]

This guy is back too?

 

[MilesTeg]

Get ready for companies having to do this to start ramping up. After suits having an orgy thinking they can save a lot of money by replacing expensive employees with a glorified chat bot, they are reaping what they sow.

Hope those engineers made Ford pay for their stupidity.

 

[ptgptg]

No worries, guys. Gandalf has it covered.

Hey, you can't fool me, that is AI generated.

 

[EasternSierra]

Hey, you can't fool me, that is AI generated.

But it's still inspired by nature. Mr. Sasquatch is actually a pretty cool guy.

 

[geargeek]

Hey, you can't fool me, that is AI generated.

At the expert direction of a graybeard

 

[GPPBronco]

Ah yes, the AI grift. We know it all too well here in Michigan…

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