From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   On 2/2/2026 12:24 PM, Don Y wrote:   
   > We (EEs) already benefit from AI in the tools that we use.   
   > We just don't think of them as AI, anymore (someone made that   
   > observation about how AI loses it's magic when it becomes   
   > commonplace).   
      
   I started researching that quote and came up short (at least   
   in terms of that particular one and a concrete citation).   
      
   But, along the same lines:   
         
      
   > We don't think anything of circuit simulation, autoplace/route,   
   > DRCs/DFM, wizards that build websites just by dragging "controls"   
   > onto a canvas, etc.   
      
   As above, I suspect a good many readers can remember when there   
   were no simulation tools, when a HUMAN had to layout a PCB   
   (after having decided on a "good" placement STRATEGY!), verifying   
   DRCs, manually compute power dissipation in devices, propagation   
   delays through logic, recognizing speech, contextual spell-check,   
   reading printed text, recognizing faces, etc.   
      
   Yet, we now see all of these as "just having computational power".   
      
   > When your parts orders are triggered by an agent monitoring your   
   > stock consumption and orders in the pipeline, it just "seems   
   > obvious" -- why do we need a purchasing agent who has to be   
   > manually prodded?   
   >   
   > When your warehouse staff are *told* where to place some   
   > item that was just received -- based on where there is   
   > available space -- and that "automatically" remembered   
   > by the inventory system, we think THAT is obvious, as well.   
      
   My garage attendant "notices" if one of your brake/backup lights   
   isn't on when t should be (because it knows the "rules" of how   
   cars operate and knows that BOTH go on simultaneously).  Ditto   
   turn signals (if you wanted to check your turn signals, you'd have   
   someone watch -- front, back, and sides -- while you activated   
   each; if something is ALREADY watching, then why can't it   
   "notice" these things:  "Ah, *a* left turn signal is on; can   
   I spot all of the related signal lights?")   
      
   This is obvious, of course.  Nothing "magic" about it -- yet,   
   it isn't being done.  Once it's seen as practical, there is   
   no wow and awe involved -- it's obvious!  (so, can't possibly   
   be AI even though having a friend perform the test involved a   
   human agent)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)