Ford CEO says AI augmented reality is a 'game changer' for techs working on his company's trucks amid a labor shortfall (www.businessinsider.com)

Ford CEO Jim Farley told a Detroit summit that AI-powered augmented reality is already a "game changer" for truck technicians, making complex repairs—like those on Ford’s Super Duty pickups—much simpler and faster. His comments come as the industry faces a severe shortage of skilled tradespeople: Tech Force estimates the U.S. needs more than 100,000 new technician jobs a year, while diesel technicians typically require roughly five years of training and can earn north of $100,000 annually. Farley said AI’s disruption of blue-collar work will be a mix of positives and negatives, depending on how companies manage retraining and deployment. Technically, AR + AI systems can overlay diagnostic data, repair instructions and parts guidance in real time, lowering the skill barrier and accelerating onboarding for high-pay, high-skill roles. Farley warned most AI startups pitch white-collar efficiency tools and urged more focus on “essential economy” solutions that directly help factory and service-bay workers. The broader implication: AI and automation could both eliminate some jobs and enable higher productivity and growth with flatter head counts, so the sector faces a strategic choice—prioritize displacement or build augmentation tools that preserve and uplift skilled trades.