In a world where headlines are increasingly filled with fears of humans being replaced by artificial intelligence, a counter-trend is emerging that could radically change the industrial landscape. This is not about displacing humans, but about “upgrading” them to a new level of efficiency. According to a bold forecast by Dmitriy Skripachev, CEO of JSC “Navigator“, by 2028 an engineer with AR glasses will be the industrial standard, not an exotic exception, gaining technological “superpowers” that previously seemed like science fiction.
Talent shortage and the “expertise gap
The basis for this technological shift is a critical problem faced by industries worldwide, from energy to pharmaceuticals. On one hand, there is the “silver tsunami” – the retirement of experienced specialists who have accumulated unique knowledge over decades. On the other hand, there is the exponential growth in the complexity of the equipment itself, which is saturated with IoT sensors, complex electronics, and robotic components. According to Dmitriy Skripachev, a dangerous gap is emerging in the industry, as “veterans are leaving, and young specialists need years to reach their level.” Under these conditions, the cost of downtime or an error due to a lack of on-site expertise becomes critical for business. AR is our most effective response to this challenge.”
Anatomy of “superpowers”: How AR is changing an engineer’s job
The main myth about AR is that it will replace people. In reality, it creates a multi-level support system for them, turning any competent specialist into a highly effective expert.
- An interactive navigator in the real world
Imagine an engineer servicing a wind turbine at a height of one hundred meters. Instead of consulting a tablet or a manual and risking distraction, they see all the necessary information directly in their field of view, overlaid on the generator’s actual components. The AR glasses highlight the required part, show the sequence of actions with animated 3D arrows, and display critical indicators in real-time. The cognitive load is reduced, and the precision of actions increases. - Artificial intelligence as a co-pilot
Modern AR platforms are not just “a screen in front of your eyes.” They are equipped with AI that analyzes what the engineer sees. It can recognize the equipment model, compare sounds and vibrations with a database of malfunctions, and provide a preliminary diagnosis. This transforms repairs from a reaction to a breakdown into proactive, data-driven maintenance. - “Teleporting” an expert on demand
This is the key function that JSC “Navigator” calls “cloning expertise.” If an engineer encounters an unusual situation, they activate the remote assistant mode. In that same second, the company’s top expert, located in an office thousands of kilometers away, sees the world through the engineer’s eyes. They can “draw” in the engineer’s field of view, circle necessary parts, send diagrams, and guide them through the process step-by-step. The problem-solving time is reduced from several days (waiting for a business trip) to a few minutes.
The economic effect: Not an expense, but an investment in efficiency
Every ruble invested in AR technology is returned multiple times over by preventing failures and accelerating workflows. As Dmitriy Skripachev emphasizes, executives should see the full picture, acknowledging that “there are initial costs for hardware and software. But they pay for themselves by reducing errors by 60-90%, accelerating the training of new employees by 50%, and increasing the first-time fix rate to 95%.” Moreover, it is a strategic advantage. Companies using AR perform service maintenance faster and better than their competitors, increasing customer loyalty. And just as importantly, AR ensures the strictest adherence to safety and production protocols, as each step can be automatically monitored and documented.
Barriers on the path to the future and how to overcome them
Despite the obvious advantages, several barriers still hinder the mass adoption of AR: cost, the complexity of integration with existing enterprise IT systems (ERP, MES), and personnel inertia. “These are solvable engineering tasks, not insurmountable obstacles,” the head of JSC “Navigator” is confident. “Platforms are becoming more accessible, ready-made gateways for integration are appearing, and employees, once they try working with AR, no longer want to go back to the old methods. The main thing is to show them that this is a tool that makes their work easier, not more complicated.”
The verdict: the future belongs to the “augmented” human
By 2028, the industry will begin to operate under a completely new set of rules. The future belongs not to soulless robots displacing people, but to “augmented” specialists whose innate experience and intuition are enhanced by the power of artificial intelligence and limitless access to information. AR technology is becoming the bridge that connects the physical and digital worlds, and those who learn to walk across it first will lead the industry of tomorrow.
