2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This study examines a conceptual framework for the integration of AI-driven Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) into the engineering workforce, highlighting its role in facilitating the transition to Industry 5.0, which prioritizes human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. Drawing on sociotechnical systems theory, the authors analyzed the interplay between social and technical components in workplaces and advocated for human-centric design, dynamic trust relationships, and collaborative sensemaking in AI-driven environments. Moving beyond existing literature reviews, this work introduces a central hypothesis that framing AI as a collaborative intelligence tool significantly improves utilization compared with framing it as a replacement tool. Also, we introduce a novel framework derived from a systematic literature synthesis and provide a detailed roadmap for empirical validation, including a proposed survey instrument. The discussion highlights the importance of AI as a collaborative intelligence tool that augments human skills rather than replaces them, thereby enabling engineers to focus on creativity, intuition, and strategic decision-making. It emphasizes the need for enhanced AI literacy, adaptive HMI designs, and organizational support to foster positive attitudes toward AI adoption and reduce resistance to change. This study concludes that successful AI integration requires framing AI as a tool to enhance human capabilities, supported by empathetic design, structured validation processes, and human resource development efforts to promote technology literacy and positive employee attitudes. This study aims to inform Human Resource Development (HRD) strategies for organizational AI adoption.