Can Architects and AI Coexist?
In a world where AI technology is gaining more and more popularity, many worry that this new phenomenon will eventually take over most jobs.
If the world is changing to become more automated, how do AI technology and architects coexist? Or can they?
My software engineer friend was shaking with excitement: “Lidia, Lidia… Have you tried this AI app? You input words, and it spits out fantastic architectural designs. You should try it! Tell me what you think about it.”
“What is all this fuss about?” I thought and returned back to my office. After a while, his words slowly started sinking in. My initial dismissal turned to worry: is AI going to take over our jobs? Will the world not need architects and designers?
Shall we think about it together?
Architects are known to use both parts of their brains to do their work - the creative half and the logical one. This really impresses some people, but if we look under the hood, we will discover that architects use many more parts of the brain and have completely different tasks to do depending on the project phase.
Architects do research, create, sketch, document, collaborate, coordinate, at times fight to get building permits and counsel team members. Architects are engineers, designers, lawyers, lobbyists, psychologists, and lately, social media marketers and bloggers. If one could come up with an AI to do all of that, I would be very impressed. So, I am not too concerned that AI will take over our jobs, but I am excited that it can help make ALL our jobs easier.
So, we decided to jump on the AI bandwagon and use it to make our office more efficient and our workdays more pleasant. Here is how we do it:
Innovative architects use generative AI platforms, like Midjourney, to jump-start the design process. Like using text-based AI to brainstorm ideas, we can use image-based AI to come up with visuals that we can then respond to, refine, and remix. Rarely does AI produce a result that can be used as a deliverable to a client, but it can help in the iterative design process that we are already familiar with. Sometimes, all you need to get out of a creative block is an AI-generated picture to improve on.
With caution, AI software can be used for very rough initial code research. Because it is better suited for creative (as opposed to fact-based) tasks, it tends to make things up. You definitely have to fact-check it against the building code and the local zoning and municipal codes. But it does provide one with a starting point to ask questions, and it is excellent at running through multiple scenarios.
Text-based AI, like ChatGPT, can be used to brainstorm in non-architecture parts of our profession. You can ask it HR, legal, and marketing questions and it often provides in-depth answers, prompting further discussion and investigation. It can also be used to outline business letters, emails, and blog posts. Of course, we never use these verbatim, and our standard procedure always includes a human writing the final draft. We still think that thought leadership and great design ideas should come from people, not computers. Computers and AI just make our lives easier.
What about you? Are you friends with AI?
Written by Jessica Alston - Office Manger and Lidia Birukova - Architect
