As technology changes at an ever-faster pace, we’ve seen the impact that it can have in all walks of life. For an architectural practice, technology has a place in improving standards, ensuring consistency and improving the eventual outcome of any given project. One area in which there has been a dramatic change in recent times is where artificial intelligence is concerned and in the architecture industry there is debate as to the benefits of AI and whether it will work effectively in architecture in the same way that the human mind has helped shape architecture and common thought over how our cities and landscapes are structured over many centuries of civilisation.
For many people who have trained as an architect there is an aggressive tone when discussing AI and its potential use. There is a thought amongst some that AI could never do the full-time job of an architect, as there is so much more to being an architect than just drawing plans or calculating the volume of a building. Of course, this is true, but then why shouldn’t we take advantage of AI, and other technologies, if it can make the entire process more accurate, easier, faster, and allows the architect to take on the other aspects of the role that are more time-consuming or require that artistic flair that is required on every project and that only a human mind can comprehend and create?
Ai and algorithms can be of great use within architecture to help with many different types of projects, and it can add a different element that is of real value. Many tasks that involved calculations and computation can be resolved much more quickly and with a guarantee of accuracy using AI than if you leave them solely to the human mind. Of course, there are other things where an architect’s eye is required or the need to make a call on something that you have a ‘gut feeling’ about rather than anything that AI could formulate on your behalf.
One area where AI can be of fantastic help is where a design has many different possibilities and scenarios. If there are many potential parameters an architect will discover the best option, but it might take a lot longer to get to that outcome, whereas AI could dramatically shorten the length of time required. Even if this is to come up with the best three options for the human architect to make the final choice between, if the difference is a day’s work or even longer, AI could be beneficial in both our use of time and budgets.
As long as we are not scared of AI and other technology, they certainly have a place in helping improve the life of an architect. Where large computations are required or many different scenarios to comprehend and choose between, AI can make a positive difference to the life of an architect’s practice. There will always be room for the human interpretation on any project, as there should be, but technology should be embraced if the end product is improved because of it.
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