Sounds like they're only missing an epiphany about offshoring the engineering!

Since engineering is a "cost center", that must be decreased, it is a potential scenario, yes.

The other is to fuck engineering. Sell what we currently have, until we can, as expensive as we can, and do not spend on engineering. That is only taking away the money! Can put on some AI glitter to dazzle, but that's it. No one knows what AI is in this narrow field anyway, we can position ourself as revolutionary inventors for anything weird or new. Some will eat up this s*t for sure. Short term is paramount!