Engineering and the Fourth Industrial Revolution

I recently enjoyed a weekend break in Ironbridge in Shropshire, UK – a place that is rich in history and innovation. It wasn’t just a spontaneous choice; I first visited Ironbridge on a school trip, and it left a lasting impression. The scale of industrial ambition on display – from the world’s first cast iron bridge to the preserved foundries and workshops that played a part in my decision to become a professional engineer.

Ironbridge is widely recognised as the symbolic birthplace of the First Industrial Revolution: a period where the world moved from Manual labour and craft production to mechanised industry. That transformation reshaped the modern world and sparked a lasting fascination with how technological revolutions change how we live and work.

Fast-forward to today, and we are experiencing what many now call the Fourth Industrial Revolution, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and advanced computing.

A longstanding Interest in AI

My interest in AI goes back several decades. It began as a university module at the University of Hull. It became a key focus of my industrial-based master’s degree, where I used AI to help validate radar signatures of missile systems. Back then, the concept of AI felt exciting but distant, limited by the tools, data, and processing power available at the time.

 Now, the landscape has shifted dramatically.

 AI has evolved from a specialist field to something practical and embedded. Thanks to cloud computing, AI has become accessible to non-specialists and can be integrated directly into daily workflows. Today, I can have meaningful conversations with Microsoft Copilot, and it tells me my thinking is insightful – a far cry from the systems I worked with as a student.

Real World Impact at IntelliQA

 At IntelliQA, our team uses AI as a tool across various projects and specialities. Whether checking the clarity of language in reports or conducting research in computer vision, AI helps us work more efficiently and with greater accuracy. It accelerates the way we gather insights—from internal data to publicly available sources—enabling us to make better decisions faster.

While at Ironbridge, I met a developer who told me how AI had transformed his workflow. In fact, he now uses AI tools to generate cleaner code with fewer defects, allowing him to focus more on solving complex problems. Similar thoughts and innovations are taking place in the world of software testing: AI can scan requirements and propose test cases, which can then feed directly into automated test frameworks.

From the Digital to the Intelligence Revolution

This shift from the Third Industrial Revolution (the digital Revolution) to the Fourth (the Intelligence Revolution) is more than technological. It’s cultural.

We’re moving away from scale-dependent delivery models and towards knowledge-based methods. Traditional, project-heavy frameworks are giving way to agile and lean methodologies. Today, niche organisations like IntelliQA can outpace larger players by delivering highly specialised, innovative solutions driven by deep expertise and passion.

 We no longer solely rely on size and infrastructure. Success now hinges on the ability to adapt and apply the right tools in the right context—and to do so quickly, creatively, and precisely.

Looking Ahead

 These are inspiring times to be in and surrounded by the technology industry, and I feel incredibly proud to call myself an engineer.

Much like those early pioneers at Ironbridge, we at IntelliQA are focused on enabling technology to address complex challenges, whether that’s in retail payments, automated testing, or exploring new frontiers within AI. The tools may have changed, but our mindset and innovations remain the same: curiosity, rigour, and a relentless drive to improve.

 As I stood once again on the banks of the River Severn, looking out at the bridge that symbolised a revolution, I was reminded of how far we’ve come and how much potential lies ahead.

---

Interested in learning more about how IntelliQA applies AI to testing and Payment Technologies? Get in touch or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more or start your Automation Journey.