My Thoughts

In my opinion I think the idea of “AI is taking over everything humans do” doesn’t fully apply to Architecture as a career; the reason I believe this is because the human input in certain assignments will never be the same when compared to something AI creates, meaning that humans are more creative when it comes to designing. For me, designing is not only about producing a final outcome, but about the thought process behind it: questioning, imagining, and responding to real people and real environments. This is why I believe human creativity and judgment in architecture cannot be replaced, but only supported, by AI. Therefore, there are some ways where AI can be helpful in this career, which is through brainstorming ideas or expanding on concepts that I provide, as well as helping in the design process. Also, I think it can be also helpful when rendering, since it can help provide ideas on certain materials that can be used. In the future though, I think AI will start taking over the part of the design and drafting process, such as coming up with an idea and then implementing it into drawings (such as creating plans, sections, and elevations).

This is the conversation that I had with ChatGPT, asking about their point of view. 

Interview with Professor: 

I interviewed one of my professors who I took a course with last semester, however, they chose that I don’t mention their name/stay anonymous so I won’t mention their name. 

* Please note that the Professor’s answer that I will write below is not what the professor exactly said, rather a summary of their answer. * 

1. How do you think AI is currently being used in architecture, both academically and professionally?

Professor:

Academically, AI is mainly used as a supportive tool rather than a design replacement. I think students use AI for coming up and analyzing ideas, and sometimes even for visualizing concepts more quickly. It helps speed up processes like creating massing options or testing environmental performance. Professionally, AI is being used more for expanding on things like energy efficiency and daylight analysis in complex projects, rather than in creative decision-making.

2. Do you think AI threatens architecture as a profession?

Professor:

No, I don’t see AI as a threat to architecture itself, since architecture is deeply connected to human experience, culture, and social behavior. However, I think AI can assist architects, but it cannot replace the human ability to interpret context, emotions, and ethical responsibility. The danger itself is not AI replacing architects, but architects relying on it without critical thinking.

3. From your perspective, what aspects of architecture will always require human input?

Professor:

Definitely the design, storytelling, and human aspects will always require human input. This is because architecture is not just about creating; it’s more about understanding people and places. Decisions related to spatial experience, cultural identity, and social impact cannot be done through AI because they come from lived experience and empathy.

4. How do you encourage students to use AI responsibly?

Professor:

I would encourage students to see AI as a tool, not a shortcut. It should be used to explore possibilities, not to replace the thinking process. Students must still be able to explain their design decisions clearly and critically. If AI is used, the student should understand why a design works, not just present an output.

5. How do you think AI will shape the future of architectural education and practice?

Professor:

I think AI will likely become integrated into the work process, especially for technical and analytical tasks. However, architectural education will be even more used on conceptual thinking, ethics, and creativity. Future architects will need to know how to work with AI while maintaining a strong human perspective.

Interview with a person in the Profession (TA/Architect Aya) 

* Please note that the TA’s answer that I will write below is not what they exactly said, rather a summary of their answer. * 

1. How is AI currently being used in architecture, both in professional practice and in your work as a TA?

Aya: In practice, AI is mostly used for creating repetitive tasks like creating construction documents or analyzing structural loads. As a TA, I see students using AI mainly for quick concept sketches or generating multiple designs, which helps them experiment faster than they could manually.

2. Do you think AI could ever replace architects?

Aya: Not completely, i think AI can create technical calculations or even propose forms, but it can’t negotiate with clients, understand site politics, or translate a client’s vision into a physical space. Those human interactions are very imp in architecture.

3. Which parts of architecture do you think will always require human input?

Aya: Decision making that involves judgment, ethics, or aesthetics will always require humans. For example, deciding how a space should make people feel, balancing budget with design quality, or adapting to unexpected site or weather conditions; AI can’t make those choices for you.

4. How do you encourage students to use AI responsibly?

Aya: I would advise students to treat AI as a brainstorming assistant, not a final designer. They should use it to explore ideas, but always refine and adjust them based on critical thinking and practical knowledge. Otherwise, their designs risk being generic or impractical.

5. How do you see AI shaping the future of architecture?

Aya: I think it will mostly change workflow rather than creativity. Architects will spend less time on repetitive technical tasks and more on conceptual problem-solving. I also see firms using AI for project simulations and scenario testing before even starting construction.

My Reflection: 

I made sure that I ask both the professor and the TA the same questions in order to effectively compare both answers, and after interviewing them about AI’s role in architecture, I noticed some similarities but also specific differences in their perspectives.

The professor was stressing more on the long-term potential of AI, saying that it can increase creativity, create repetitive tasks, and even improve performance analysis. He seemed amazed about how AI can help students explore more design concepts quickly and encourage problem-solving. This was actually very surprising to me, since I thought that they would be so fed up/annoyed with AI, so them being positive about AI was actually interesting. 

Surprisingly, the TA was more cautious, where she was more focused on the disadvantages and risks of AI. She seemed to point out that students are becoming too reliant on AI for idea generation and risk losing critical thinking skills. She was also concerned about ethical issues, such as data bias, copyright problems, and over-reliance on technology in practice. I found this perspective different, since she is only 5 years older than me, so I thought that because she is considered as a similar generation to mine, then she would have more positive views on technology. 

When I was comparing the two, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. It’s interesting to imagine AI helping architects generate innovative designs faster and visualize concepts more effectively. But it’s also a bit scary considering the possibility of students or professionals becoming dependent on AI, potentially compromising originality and critical thinking.

Also, this reflection helped me realize that I need to always use my critical thinking and understanding of AI, not just rely on its answers. Right now, I think I should experiment with AI tools in my own design process but make sure to critically evaluate the results, come up with questions about AI’s capabilities to check whether the results are reasonable or exaggerated, and lastly consider ethics and morals, and make sure to understand how data is used and avoiding fully trusting in AI-generated solutions.