AI Integration Demands Integrity, Not Just Innovation: Amy Trahey on Building Accountability
Artificial intelligence has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of modern life, silently guiding decisions that often go unnoticed by us. Amy Trahey, founder of Great Lakes Engineering Group, believes that it’s not just about innovation but also integrity and accountability in an AI-driven world.
As an engineer, Trahey witnesses AI’s direct impact on outcomes related to public safety, funding allocation, and long-term trustworthiness. Her journey with AI began outside formal systems, revealing itself through everyday interactions with technology like predictive recommendations and voice assistants. She reflects, "I realized how AI is integrated into everything—from streaming platforms to phone conversations, it’s all around us, evolving faster than we can keep up."
This rapid evolution, in Trahey’s opinion, creates a leadership void. Organizations are adopting AI at an unprecedented scale, and she believes many leaders underestimate the speed at which their teams are already relying on it. Studies show that nearly three out of four companies now use AI in some capacity, emphasizing the need for active oversight. "You have to realize your team is going to use it," Trahey explains, "so it becomes your responsibility to understand and ensure its proper usage."
Her first step toward fulfilling this responsibility was through education. She enrolled in a five-week intensive program focused on AI prompting, gaining insights that reshaped her perspective: "AI is truly transformational technology, comparable to the World Wide Web but evolving even faster. It holds immense power for positive change and, naturally, can be misused."
At Great Lakes Engineering Group, Trahey emphasizes establishing integrity as a foundation. She uses AI to streamline processes like translating complex engineering briefs into concise client communications and generating structured meeting documentation in minutes. "AI should augment human capability, not replace it," she stresses.
Oversight remains a cornerstone of her process, especially in high-stakes environments. Trahey insists on human review for all AI-generated outputs, ensuring due diligence in projects related to bridge and transportation infrastructure. "AI acts as an assistant to me," she concludes, emphasizing the balance between technology and human expertise.