How AI Is Transforming the Field of Architecture and Design

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is still on the move, disrupting various global industries. Taking the lead within industries that demand the natural application of intelligence, critical thinking, and creativity.

Just after the 2020 pandemic, the world has witnessed massive integration of machines capable of automating several time-consuming tasks across various industries. Such industries include healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation and logistics, and recently, the architecture and design industry.

Architecture and design is currently one of the most-evolving and thriving industries in the world, due to its commitment to ensuring consistent creation and transformation of the human-built environment.

Since sheltering is paramount to the human quality of life, the significance of architecture in every society can’t be undermined.

This is evident in the industry gross value added in the UK in 2019 which sum up to 3.6 billion pounds.

Integration of AI With Architecture and Design

Reports from architects have revealed that AI, just as expected, is already finding its way into some major architectural activities. In fact, there are now AI companies that specialize in creating models that help enhance the work of architects to enhance efficiency.

Though architecture is known to be a field that prioritizes creativity. The new wave of AI adoption in this field is already influencing and aiding architects' ideation capability to become more innovative.

This new technology doesn't only facilitate high creativity and the creation of new ideas for architects, rather, it is now actively involved in ensuring proper time management and augments building activities to save costs.

XKool, founded in 2016, is an AI company with a mission of transforming the architecture industry by providing architects the opportunity to automate all activities from initial idea, and design package to construction.

According to a report, XKool is currently being used by over 50,000 people in China; while the English version of the model, LookX, an image-to-image AI tool is also available.

Blocktype is another AI tool currently in use within the architecture industry to aid the activities of developers and construction. Blocktype provides both developers and building planners with an accurate estimation of how much it will take to work on a building on a site. This AI tool also supports developers to think spatially when deciding how much to pay for land.

This has saved a lot of architects the headache of risk and resource management. Building planning and development is one of the most tedious tasks in architecture that AI is now automating.

Midjourney also is a generative architecture design software that is developed to provide architects with options and ideas of possible structures to build. Aside from its ability to generate ideas, Midjourney is also used by developers to critically assess or examine in real-time building structures, such as the floor, to identify what needs to be worked on and its implications.

Threats Imposed by AI Integration in Architecture

AI, as seen across different industries, is argued to be invented to improve human work and performance for greater efficiency. However, the evolution of technology has continued to pose threats to several industries.

In the case of architecture, experts within the industry are already raising concerns about the ostensible threats this technology is perpetrating within the industry.

Recently, architects and experts in the field of architecture have already voiced out, pointing out to AI developers the looming danger of enabling these models that have the potential to misuse data, which ultimately, can cause damage to human reputation.

Data privacy is the major concern architects have raised over the continuous integration of AI into the Architecture industry. The fear is that these models may not have been trained properly to stay away from accessing and utilizing high-sensitive secured data.

According to an Associate Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design at SUTD, Carlos Banon, in a report, suggested that the major problem AI developers need to focus on is to develop models that are capable of addressing ethical, and social challenges and privacy concerns.

Relief for Architecture Workers

While AI is on a spree to revolutionize industries, the field of architecture remains one of the industries the technology has a significantly low chance of hijacking architects' jobs.

Even though, historically, there has been the presence of cloud computing and computer-aided design within the industry since the 70s.

According to experts, the chances of architects being replaced by these models are relatively low. Leaving the technology to serve the duty of augmenting the works of architects and building planners.

However, some professionals in years to come may become irrelevant within their fields if they choose to stay inertia of acquiring more knowledge on how to integrate AI into their work.

Carlos Banon stated that professionals who fail to accept and utilize AI will soon find themselves left behind in the cause of the revolution currently besieging the industry.

Conclusion

Predictively, the AI disruption of traditional, industrial operations and its immediate adoption, as a new model of technology, will keep skyrocketing across several industries and sections.

The impact of this model in transforming the architecture and design industry will become more significant in a few years from now. We are bound to witness a high proliferation of breathtaking structures built with the help of AI.

For architects and architecture experts, their focus now should be more invested in learning how to augment their creativity with the influx of AI models in the industry. This is the only way to remain relevant in the upcoming near-total adoption of AI for building and construction.