The subject of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly discussed in all domains, be they professional, educational, creative, and the field of architecture is no exception. In this context, on the one hand, the fear of the impact of these new tools on the creative processes and, in a way, the annulment of the meaning and place of the profession of architect is defined, and on the other hand, the optimism of facing these new tools with the potential to optimize the design process.

What is certain is that currently there are already accessible by the public several Artificial Intelligence platforms that allow, based on assumptions given by the user, to have feedback from the “machine” in the various domains, both written and designed.

As an example, here is a question and its answer given by the AI on the ChatGPT platform https://chat.openai.com/chat (question asked on 01/14/2023):

“User:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI in architecture?

AI:

Advantages of using artificial intelligence (AI) in architecture include:

Design optimization: AI can help optimize architectural designs, increasing energy efficiency and reducing construction costs.

Customization: AI can be used to customize designs according to customer needs such as accessibility, safety, and comfort.

Data analytics: AI can help analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns and trends, which can inform design decisions.

Automation: AI can automate repetitive tasks like 3D modeling, which can save time and resources.

Disadvantages of using AI in architecture include:

Cost: AI technologies can be expensive, which can make it difficult for some companies or individuals to access these capabilities.

Complexity: AI is a highly complex field, and it can be difficult for non-expert architects to understand and use these tools.

Lack of creativity: Automating tasks through AI can diminish human creativity in architectural design.

Accountability: AI can be used to make important decisions, but there may be ethical and legal issues not safeguarded.”

Likewise, the AI was asked to create an image (example that illustrates this article), on the DALL.E 2 platform https://openai.com/dall-e-2/ under the request (order made on (14/ 01/2023):

“Pencil drawing of a street in the historic center of Lisbon”

On which 4 hypotheses were presented in less than 15 seconds, and on which it is possible to request variants and other diverse requests, all of them accessible almost immediately.

Undoubtedly, the creative domain will be strongly “shaken” with these potentialities, many of which have already been questioned in several countries and banned from the academic sphere. The European Union itself currently has the AI regulation project on the table.

Although it may seem frightening, the truth is that we are facing a new paradigm about which we must be aware and we are preparing to deal with it both in the creative and professional domain of the field of architecture and, above all, in the educational field.

Providing awareness and preparing users on how to use these tools will undoubtedly be one of the keyways to optimize these processes, which will inevitably dominate the near future.

Image: Pencil drawing of a street in the historic center of Lisbon, made by AI (source: DALL.E 2, 01/14/2023)