Barriers to Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Metal AM

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Author: Wayne King, The Barnes Global Advisors

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to significantly impact metal additive manufacturing (AM). Understanding how one might use AI in AM is challenging because AM experts are not AI experts, nor the other way around. This document introduces AI in AM and guides researchers in accessing relevant literature. It also discusses the hype surrounding AI in AM, the rush to publish peer-reviewed papers that use AI in AM, and the resulting uneven quality of the literature. Conclusions regarding the application of AI in both large and small enterprises are discussed.

This document is intended to help illuminate AI in AM for

  • Hands-on engineers who need to quickly understand what levels of problems they might encounter when dealing with AI in AM

  • Engineering managers who need to stay current on emerging trends in their technical realm of responsibilities

  • Policymakers who may not have the relevant technical expertise

  • Faculty and students who want an introduction to AI in AM

NOTE: SAE Edge Research Reports are intended to identify and illuminate key issues in emerging, but still unsettled, technologies of interest to the mobility industry. The goal is to stimulate discussion and work in the hope of promoting and speeding resolution of identified issues. These reports are not intended to resolve the challenges they identify or close any topic to further scrutiny.

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