Is Generative AI going to replace Architects?
This is one of the biggest questions many in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry asked themselves in recent years. The applications that new advancements in AI brought to the world in just the last few months made it very difficult to avoid questioning how this will impact our work.
While it is difficult to ignore that AI can be a powerful tool for architects as it can help develop design alternatives and concepts faster, optimize parameters, and generate complex forms or patterns, it still requires human expertise to evaluate and refine the generated outputs. Architects bring a deep understanding of context, cultural significance, and spatial relationships essential for creating successful and meaningful architecture.
However, being traditionally a very manual process, very few automation have been implemented over the years, so many aspects of the architect’s job can still be sped up.
The architect’s role involves many non-design aspects, such as project management, construction administration, and coordination with engineers and other professionals. Architects oversee the construction process, ensure adherence to safety standards, and resolve on-site challenges. These tasks require human judgment, problem-solving skills, and effective communication, which are not easily replaceable by AI. For this reason, many companies in the PropTech (Property Technology) space are working on improving many of these aspects, adding value to what an architect can provide.
Laiout: test case
An example could be when evaluating different design options, the technology we developed allows users to test multiple options and unlimited variables simultaneously, and the data provided is precise and allows for a swift decision-making process. The user is still the one in charge of the final decision, but this can be informed and doesn’t require time-consuming or expensive consultants, it can be done within a few clicks reducing at the same time and the possibility of errors.
Laiout’s algorithm can evaluate at the same time the efficiency of a floor plan, the max occupancy, place work areas only where allowed by daylight constraints, and design corridors based on country requirements allowing for a safer environment. It also considers the cost in terms of the embodied carbon of each design option, allowing for a more sustainable choice between the different floor plans.
Creativity vs. Augmented Skills
Architects bring unique skills and expertise that are difficult to replace. They deeply understand human needs, cultural contexts, and aesthetic considerations. Architects also excel in creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and integrating diverse requirements into a cohesive design solution. AI can indeed help in all these elements, but at the same time, an architect augmented with the use of technology can bypass many of the role’s constraints, making it produce more quality in less time.
Future
To sum up, AI won’t replace architects, but those who resist using new technologies will. Architects will remain essential to the design process, ensuring that technology, context, and human experience are seamlessly integrated into the built environment. However, they must be willing to adjust to the evolving industry landscape.
