Public-private partnerships between governments and engineers are essential for shaping the future, particularly in regulating and advancing AI.

In industrialized nations, partnerships between national governments and engineering firms take on various forms, from commercial contracts to strategic collaborations. However, the fundamental dynamic remains consistent: each entity depends on the other, and they accomplish what neither could achieve alone.

Since the era of NASA’s Gemini program, governments and engineering organizations have partnered to drive transformative technological innovation. These alliances become particularly vital when the goal is to transition groundbreaking ideas from the lab into real-world applications that benefit society.

Gemini’s success hinged on corporate research labs and, later, private-sector test centers and production facilities. The aerospace industry of the 1960s mirrors today’s reality: while government agencies signed contracts with engineering firms, the relationship was more profound—an intertwined partnership characterized by shared risks and rewards.

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and daily life, that balance is again at stake.

A Personal Lens on Engineering-Government Collaboration

The significance of this partnership is more than theoretical to me—it’s a lived experience. My father’s career as an engineer was shaped by U.S. companies that worked hand-in-hand with the federal government. In the 1950s, he was employed by American Machine and Foundry (AMF)—an engineering innovator best known today for its bowling equipment.

At the time, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) enlisted AMF to build nuclear reactors in multiple countries. Under President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative, the AEC aimed to harness nuclear technology for economic growth, scientific advancement, and medical breakthroughs.

One of AMF’s most challenging assignments—in partnership with Westinghouse—was engineering, designing, and constructing Japan’s first nuclear reactor. In the mid-1950s, just a decade after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, anything nuclear was fraught with controversy. Overcoming deep-seated public skepticism required diplomacy, political finesse, and, above all, engineering excellence.

My father relocated our family to Tokyo, where he worked within Mitsubishi Electric, one of Japan’s largest corporations. The experience underscored an essential truth: when government and industry align their missions, they can work together despite differing priorities, risk tolerances, and stakeholder interests.

Later, my father joined a firm soon to be acquired by General Electric, where he collaborated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on air-cleaning technologies. His team at Silicon Valley-based Envirotech developed electrostatic precipitators for coal-fired power plants—an innovation that gained traction after the 1970 Clean Air Act mandated pollution control. Their work exemplified how engineering solutions could address technical and societal challenges when paired with government regulation.

The AI Challenge: Who Holds the Reins?

Today, AI’s capabilities advance astonishingly, yet stringent guardrails ensure that machines remain under human command. The challenge lies in forging a partnership where corporate mandates align with governmental oversight. Establishing a framework rooted in moral principles is essential for guiding AI’s development, particularly given the vast unknowns that remain.

Navigating the intersection of technology and morality has always been difficult, often requiring an evolving definition of the boundaries. Eisenhower’s 1961 Farewell Address famously warned against the unchecked power of the military-industrial complex: “We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

A modern parallel can be drawn with Big Tech’s growing influence. Governments worldwide are crafting ethical frameworks for AI regulation. The United Kingdom’s AI strategy entrusts oversight to existing regulators, operating under safety, security, transparency, accountability, and fairness principles. This pro-innovation approach acknowledges that industry-specific regulators are best equipped to oversee AI’s impact within their domains. The goal is to ensure responsible AI development while avoiding dystopian scenarios where unregulated AI spirals beyond control.

The European Union and nearly 20 other nations have implemented AI regulations, while the United States lags. A federal study is underway to determine how AI should be governed. However, skepticism remains about whether its recommendations will gain traction or be sidelined by political inertia and Elon Musk’s growing influence within the current administration.

Private-sector engineers and scientists will continue pushing technological boundaries regardless of government involvement. Yet history reveals that the most successful advancements—whether in space exploration or public health—have emerged from robust public-private partnerships. These collaborations ensure that regulatory frameworks are well-intentioned and practical, even if they inevitably become politicized.

The Verdict: Who Shapes the Future?

Having worked as a special government executive and a corporate executive in engineering-led firms, I’ve seen both sides. The answer is clear: neither engineers nor governments create the best future. Instead, it is the symbiotic relationship between them that propels society forward.

Governments hold two undeniable advantages over private industry: taxation and ultimate authority. These powers shape regulatory landscapes, ensuring societal needs are prioritized. However, the intellect and creativity of engineers—who solve technical problems and help set regulatory challenges—offer an indispensable counterbalance.

Ultimately, the entities best positioned to build the future are those willing to take responsibility for it. As AI advances, the question isn’t whether governments or engineers should lead—it’s how they must work together to prevent a future where neither is in control.

This article was originally posted in GlobalSpec.