[bryancoxwell]

I honestly don’t, although maybe that hype cycle was before my time.

But this seems an unfair comparison. For one, I think 3D printing made me better, not worse, at engineering (back when mechanical engineering was my jam), as it allowed me to prototype and make mistakes faster and cheaper. While it hasn’t replaced all manufacturing (or even come close), it plays an important role in design without atrophying the skills of the user.

[jrockway]

Honestly, both are pretty good for prototyping. I haven't found AI helpful with big picture stuff (design) or nuts and bolts stuff (large refactorings), but it's good at some tedium that I definitely know how to do but guess that AI can type it in faster than I can. Similarly, given enough time I could probably manufacture my designs on a mill/lathe but there is something to be said for just letting the printer do it when plastic is good enough (100% of my projects; but obviously I select projects where 3D printing is going to work). Very similar technologies and there are productivity gains to be had. Did the world change because of either? Not really.

[gwbas1c]

I find AI has the potential to do that (in my software development job): But so far I'm only using it occasionally, probably not as often as you used 3D printing.