Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques are increasingly explored to support design activities within the manufacturing context mainly driven by the development of AI technologies. However, few studies were conducted in practice from industrial perspectives. This research aims to understand the opportunities and challenges of AI in design in the real world. A workshop involving twenty-five participants from more than ten manufacturing firms is organised to collect relevant information. The opportunities and challenges identified are categorised by adopting a readily available data-driven design framework. Seven research directions are proposed accordingly to address the industry challenges and opportunities. This research serves as a guide for ensuring future AI in design research and applications are grounded in practice to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice.
