Ford has rehired 350 veteran engineers, including some former employees and current suppliers, after artificial intelligence systems failed to meet quality standards. The company's COO, Kumar Galhotra, revealed the disappointing results of relying heavily on automated quality systems, leading Ford to bring back technical specialists who will train younger staff and reprogram AI tools.

Charles Poon, Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering at Ford, admitted that they mistakenly thought that just by ingesting design requirements into AI, a high-quality product would result. This move has reportedly lowered warranty and recall costs for the automaker, contributing to significant savings on costs.

The rehiring seems to be paying off as Ford now holds the top spot among mainstream brands in the JD Power Initial Quality Survey. Despite this success, it remains a cautionary tale about over-reliance on technology that may not always meet expectations.

CEO Jim Farley highlighted the financial benefits of bringing back these 'gray beard' engineers, noting their impact on cost reductions and overall quality improvements.