Ford saves millions after reversing AI strategy and rehiring veteran engineersOne of the world’s best-known companies has been forced to rehire human workers it had originally let go, because their AI replacements couldn’t do their jobs.James Chung2 min readJune 30, 2026 - 2:41PMMotoringFord has been forced into a major strategy shift after admitting its heavy reliance on artificial intelligence was a costly mistake.In a major reversal, the American car giant has rehired around 350 veteran engineers in the last few years to help fix production issues and improve the quality of its vehicles that was once overseen by AI.RELATED: Bizarre FIFA World Cup tech exposedFord has rehired engineers to fix production issues. (Picture: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)“Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it’s only as good as the information you use to train it,” Ford vice president of vehicle hardware engineering Charles Poon said to Bloomberg.“Over prior years, we didn’t pay as much attention as we should have to the experience of our most knowledgeable engineers who have been with us through many product cycles.”Ford now says those experienced engineers are playing a critical role in spotting problems before they reach the production line.Others you may likenewsnewsAccording to Ford’s chief operating officer, Kumar Galhotra, the newly recruited engineers are “at the heart” of Ford’s efforts to turn around quality problems.RELATED: ‘Fight for humanity’- ‘Cobots’ steal 1000 jobsFord is the most recalled car brand in the US. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The AustralianFord rehired veteran engineers to help guide AI systems Picture: Getty“We brought back technical specialists and they hunt for failure points before a part ever reaches the plant floor.”As a result, they are reportedly holding mandatory meetings to closely monitor AI tools and prevent glitches before they occur.But the strategy shift follows what the company described as hard lessons about the limits of AI.Rehiring engineers is saving the car giant millions. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images“Free from daily production schedules, these engineers now act as internal auditors, running mandatory weekly design reviews to hunt for and eliminate potential failure points before blueprints ever reach the factory floor,” Ford said in a statement.Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed to Bloomberg TV the change has helped improve the company’s financial performance, with warranty claims and recall costs beginning to fall, saving millions.Ford boss Jim Farley confirmed the change has helped improve the company’s financial performance. Picture: Bill Pugliano/Getty ImagesFord is aiming to save $1 billion in costs by the end of the year. Picture: JEFF KOWALSKYThese are all contributing to literally hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars of a tailwind for Ford on cost,” Mr Farley said.The company aims to slash $1 billion in costs by the end of the year, with executives crediting the return of experienced engineers as a key reason for the turnaround.The improvement is also showing up in independent quality rankings.In last year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, which measures problems experienced during the first three months of ownership, Ford ranked 10th among mainstream brands and finished below the industry average.This year, Ford was the most improved brand in the survey, climbing to third overall behind luxury marques Porsche and Genesis.The Ford Ranger is Australia’s best selling ute. Picture: Thomas WieleckiDespite the progress, Ford still has work to do.The company remains America’s most recalled carmaker and has warned it expects about $1 billion in warranty and material costs this year.More CoverageDriverless cars to hit Aussie streetsDavid McCowenChina’s bold plan for global rule exposedDanielle CollisFord isn’t immune to recalls in Australia either.The car giant has seen multiple recall notices for its vehicles, with the Ford Transit Custom and F-150 receiving the latest recall notices to owners.“Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Ford in writing requesting they contact their authorised Ford Dealer,” the notices state.Join the conversationAdd your comment to this storyTo join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? RegisterJoin the conversation, you are commenting as LogoutMore related storiesOn the RoadBizarre FIFA World Cup tech exposedOne of the world’s biggest carmakers is attempting to upstage the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup by transforming itself into a tech giant.Read moreOn the RoadNew AI traffic camera comes with a twistA new roadside camera watches for near-misses at a busy intersection, but with one important twist.Read moreOn the RoadUS car giant makes bold EV moveAn iconic American car giant is making a bold play for Aussie driveways, and its price tag will leave rival brands absolutely sweating.Read more