AI and its Impact on the Design and Construction Industries

 
Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash

If someone mentions free pizza is part of the deal, I tend to be a sucker and say “yes” to any request. Naturally then, I did exactly that when Kayla Bundy and Sydney Mills (CSI Willamette Valley Chapter president and president-elect, respectively) asked me to lead a discussion on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the design and construction industries during last Thursday afternoon’s “Learning and Libations” CSI meeting at Roaring Rapids Pizza Co. 

I am by no means expert on the subject. On the other hand, I am fascinated by recent developments in AI. Indeed, I’ve written several blog posts about AI and its implications for the architectural profession in recent years. Speculation about the future is fun because it encourages me to explore the unknown, question my assumptions, and envision possibilities. 

There’s a lot of hype these days about artificial intelligence and how it is poised to radically transform our lives. This excitement is largely fueled by the emergence of natural language processing chatbots including ChatGPT and Bard, as well as text-to-image generators like MidJourney and Dall-E. While these applications showcase remarkable capabilities, I believe it’s important to temper our expectations and avoid the fear of machines overpowering and eradicating us pesky humans. Let’s be realistic.

The way AI is being practically applied today is still largely narrow and siloed. For example, a so-called “AI” application may assist in analyzing building envelope performance but fails to consider the full spectrum of design considerations. Similarly, another app might generate alternative apartment layouts based on programmed parameters but falls short in simultaneously optimizing window size and placement. In essence, today’s narrow AI applications offer specific functionalities rather than general intelligence.

Numerous startups have recently developed (narrow) AI tools intended to capitalize on the current AI buzz and become the next “killer app” for architects. The following is just a small sampling (I snagged the tagline that accompanies each from their respective websites):

• ARCHITEChTURES: Design better buildings faster with AI.
• ARK: The first AI platform for creating architectural schematic design.
• BricsCAD BIM: Where AI and BIM converge for a seamless, efficient architectural design process.
• Finch: The generative copilot for better buildings.
• Maket: Simplifying zoning compliance.
• SWAPP: Design to inspire.

I figure we’re still some years away before general AI becomes a reality and truly useful in comprehensive design and construction applications. Once we reach that milestone, AI will be capable of providing truly time-saving digital assistance to humans. The most valued human skillset will likely revolve around the ability to analyze AI outputs critically and effectively craft prompts to iteratively improve results. This underscores the enduring importance of critical thinking and the capacity to grasp the bigger picture. 

I do imagine AI’s ability to understand text and spoken words in much the same way human beings do will eventually transform the nature of architectural practice, relieving us of what today are often tedious and time-consuming processes. With increasing sophistication, AI apps will be able to tackle especially challenging tasks, such as helping architects with remodel/addition projects. Robots may become affordable and widespread enough to tirelessly handle field-verification tasks, utilizing LIDAR to digitize vast point clouds and autonomously distinguishing structural framing from ducts, pipes, or conduits.
 
The problem with the coming AI revolution may be the elimination of many current jobs in the design and construction fields. Why hire entry-level staff if a digital assistant is faster, more reliable, and comes out-of-the-box with a massive, comprehensive, and up-to-the-minute knowledge base? This raises the crucial question of where experienced, critical thinking humans will come from if there are no longer entry-level roles to foster their development. Everyone needs a starting point.
 
Speculating about the impact of AI on the design and construction industries allows us to better understand the transformative possibilities while considering the importance of human skills. While I began by saying we need to temper expectations, the fact is the pace of AI improvements is rapidly accelerating. As I said previously, AI promises to make the future work of architects better and easier so we can focus on what fundamentally distinguishes real architecture from mere building. We need to embrace its possibilities and proactively anticipate its disruptive potential.