At RCon 2025 this November in Columbus, The BAI Group’s John Smith and Davar Ardalan will bring an engineer’s eye and a human touch to one of today’s biggest questions: how to use AI wisely, sustainably, and transparently.
From the Florida Engineering Summit to the Chesapeake TriCon workshop, Smith and Ardalan have spent the past two years engaging engineers who are both curious and cautious about artificial intelligence. Their session, “Artificial Intelligence: Applications and Limitations,” continues that dialogue not as a tech pitch but as a field-tested conversation about what happens when algorithms meet asphalt, wetlands, and wastewater.
From Hype to Human-Centered Practice
AI can streamline proposal writing, cost estimating, and wetland mapping, but it can also make mistakes, create false confidence, or waste resources if used carelessly.
“We’re engineers first,” says Smith. “We don’t need hype, we need tools that actually work in the field.”
Their examples, from automated drafting to predictive maintenance and digital twins, show where AI adds real value and where human judgment must stay in charge.
Pennsylvania: A Leader in Responsible AI
Pennsylvania is emerging as a national leader in applied generative AI and AI-driven engineering. In 2023, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania partnered with OpenAI on one of the first large-scale government pilots of ChatGPT Enterprise, involving 175 employees across 14 agencies. The project improved communication and efficiency while revealing the importance of training, oversight, and human accountability, making Pennsylvania a model for responsible AI in the public sector. Meanwhile, Penn State University is advancing this momentum with its new Artificial Intelligence Engineering degree and minor, launched in Fall 2025. Among the first of its kind in the U.S., it blends hardware, software, and systems thinking to prepare engineers to integrate AI responsibly across environmental, energy, and infrastructure disciplines. Together, these efforts position Pennsylvania at the forefront of human-centered AI innovation.
From Pennsylvania’s Momentum to Maryland’s Mission
With Pennsylvania setting the pace, The BAI Group is expanding that momentum southward. The launch of bAI Labs in Maryland creates a regional hub where lessons from Pennsylvania’s leadership move from pilot to practice. Positioned at the intersection of engineering, policy, and sustainability, bAI Labs will help municipalities and engineering teams adopt AI tools that are trustworthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
Launching in January 2026, bAI Labs, the Applied AI Innovation Division of The BAI Group, translates responsible AI principles into action. Its F7 Suite offers three key programs:
● Foundations (AI 101 for Engineers): Hands-on training in responsible AI, privacy, and sustainable computing.
● Framework (AI Readiness Assessment): Evaluates data maturity and governance for sustainable AI roadmaps.
● Fieldwork (Municipal AI Integration): A three-month pilot for secure, client-controlled AI in local government.
Each initiative reflects bAI Labs’ guiding principles: trustworthy AI, sustainable computing, and practical utility.
A Responsible Evolution
Smith and Ardalan’s approach mirrors the framework behind bAI Labs: Focus, Frame, and Field.
Focus: Build understanding and governance before using AI.
Frame: Identify practical workflows where AI adds value.
Field: Pilot responsibly, measure impact, and scale with purpose.
Their live demo of John Smith GPT, an experimental AI trained on Smith’s environmental expertise, will show how AI can extend human insight rather than replace it.
“John Smith GPT isn’t about automation,” says Ardalan. “It’s about translation, helping engineers access their own data and experience more intuitively.”
Looking Ahead
As RCon 2025 brings together waste and resource management professionals nationwide, Smith and Ardalan will ground the AI discussion in what matters most: field-tested insight, ethical practice, and environmental responsibility.
Their message is simple:
AI isn’t replacing engineers; it’s evolving with them. The challenge is to shape that evolution responsibly.
Artificial Intelligence: Applications and Limitations : Details on BAI presenting on AI and Engineering at RCon 2025 in Columbus Ohio, November 16, 2025
Blog Image: “Intelligent by Design,” artwork by Davar Ardalan, reflects the evolving relationship between people, engineering, and artificial intelligence. Presented at RCon 2025, it symbolizes how human creativity and responsible technology can work together to build a more sustainable world.
Editorial Note: At BAI Group, we responsibly use AI tools to streamline our work, always under human oversight and professional review.