Why Judgment Matters More, Not Less, in the AI Era
CIO, Monday, October 5th, 2026
Ford's rehiring of 350 veteran engineers after over-relying on AI quality control shows experienced judgment still matters.
A CIO.com column notes that some companies that cut staff for AI are now reconsidering, citing Ford, which leaned on more than 900 AI-assisted cameras for quality control in 2023 but saw defects persist.
Concluding it had overcorrected, Ford rehired 350 veteran 'gray beard' engineers over three years to retrain the AI, catch failures early and mentor younger staff rather than replace AI.
CEO Jim Farley credits the move with hundreds of millions in warranty and recall savings, Ford topped the 2026 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, and the author calls it organizational courage.