86% of Engineers in the US Are Using AI. Only 6% Trust It Without Hesitation. (2026 Study)
Report Highlights
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While adoption of AI is widespread, only 6% of engineers actually trust AI results without hesitation, while the rest either verify every result (89%) or don’t trust the output at all (5%).
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71% use it to save time and cut out everyday grunt work, but only 9% think it improves work accuracy.
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52% of engineers still use “back-of-the-envelope” math to make sure the AI isn’t hallucinating.
AI is no longer just for early adopters. Now, 86% of engineers use AI tools in their daily work or studies.
However, the rules haven’t yet caught up to the tools. Even though engineers across the US are using AI, the actual policies for it are still all over the place, depending on where they’re located.
The US Heat Map below shows that AI use is highest in the South at 90% and in the West at 89%. This distribution suggests that technology hubs and industrial centers are leading the adoption.
When looking at the main technology used, one name still stands out:
AI usage is consolidating around a small group of mainstream platforms. This trend signals growing standardization rather than experimentation. Companies appear less concerned about AI itself and more concerned about uncontrolled, unvetted tools.
If engineers don’t fully trust AI outputs, why are they using them at such high rates?
Because it saves time.
We have identified an “AI Value Hierarchy.” Right now, engineers see AI as a way to increase productivity and handle routine tasks, but not as a replacement for careful technical work.
The main finding is that 71% of engineers say AI "Saves Time," but only 9% believe it "Improves Accuracy."
“Trust, but Verify” is the New Creed. This careful approach is important for engineers. While 86% use AI tools, 89% only trust the results after checking them by hand.
Only:
- 6% trust AI results without hesitation; and
- 14% trust AI reasoning itself.
That 14% represents the real “danger zone.” AI can produce reasoning that appears logical but is factually incorrect. Encouragingly, most engineers recognize this risk.
When AI provides a technical result, engineers verify by:
- Performing a quick “back-of-the-envelope” calculation by hand (52%); and
- Checking textbooks and industry manuals to confirm the logic is correct (29%).
Only 6% of engineers trust AI results without hesitation. In an industry where even a small error can be disastrous, the “black box” nature of AI remains its biggest challenge.
Engineers are not broadly afraid of using AI. Instead, they foresee a collaborative future where:
- AI handles data-heavy, repetitive, or exploratory tasks; and
- Humans retain final authority over safety, ethics, and design decisions.
Top Future Concerns
- Accuracy & Reliability (85%);
- Data Privacy (59%); and
- Ethical/Safety Risks (53%).
Accuracy dominates all other concerns. The engineering community is acutely aware that AI hallucinations or subtle technical errors could cause real-world failures.
More than half also worry about privacy and professional liability. The barriers to full adoption are not only technical but also ethical and legal.
Generational Divide
- 59% of Gen Z users are optimistic about AI. They see AI as a natural part of the engineering toolkit rather than a threat.
- 25% of millennials believe AI will fundamentally change engineering.
- Nearly 50% of millennials believe the profession is heading toward total transformation (compared to ~37% of Gen Z).
Millennials, who have experienced multiple technology disruptions, appear more cautious about workforce impact.
Rather than resisting AI, the engineering profession is integrating it with a high degree of caution.
💡 AI is not replacing engineers. It is becoming a productivity layer on top of existing expertise. In a profession built on precision, that human oversight isn’t going anywhere.