Dan Heilman//November 13, 2023//
Phillip G. Bernstein
AI a focus at Minnesota architecture conference
Phillip G. Bernstein
Dan Heilman//November 13, 2023//
As it threatens to affect and even take over some creative disciplines, artificial intelligence is more and more seen as a way to replace the work of artists and other professionals.
But when it comes to architecture, AI could turn out to be a mixed blessing at worst and a boon at best.
That topic will be a primary area of discussion when AIA Minnesota holds its annual conference this week. The event’s keynote speaker is Phillip G. Bernstein, associate dean and professor adjunct at Yale Architecture and author of the 2022 book “Machine Learning: Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Bernstein said that although advancements have been made in AI since his book was published, its main thesis still holds true: “Rather than invest all our energy towards making provocative images of buildings with these generators, the profession and the building industry would be best served by deploying its potential to make design and construction more predictable, cost effective, sustainable and equitable,” he said.
Snow-Kreilich associate principal Karen Lu is AIA Minnesota’s representative on the AIA national Strategic Council and leads their work related to AI and the future of architecture. After reading Bernstein’s book, she helped get him to moderate a panel focused on AI and the business of architecture at this week’s conference as well as offering its keynote speech.
“Phil has experience in areas of practice when it comes to architectural education and technology,” said Lu. “He works on large, complex projects. He was a VP at AutoDesk for a while when they were developing building information modeling (BIM).
“With that broad background, as well as the tone of the book, that made him rise to the top when it came to the experts we wanted to work with.”
AIA Minnesota asked its members to do a little homework prior to the conference, namely reading “Machine Learning” and being prepared to ask questions.
“With the news in the last few months, we all want to know how AI will affect the future of the profession,” said Lu. “There’s both fear and excitement. We want to have a larger, more informed conversation.”
Bernstein’s book is divided into three main sections — process, relationships and results — and features chapters on professionalism; tools and technologies; laws, policy and risk; delivery, means and methods; creating, consuming and curating data; and value propositions and business models.
Bernstein said that while the implications of AI in architecture are still developing, many in the industry are taking a wait-and-see approach.
“Tech adoption in the building industry is pretty slow on the uptake generally, and architects are just now feeling out what the possibilities of AI and machine learning might be,” he said. “Some advanced firms have been experimenting for a while; others are watching cautiously to see what works. So it goes with our profession and new tools.”
Bernstein added that using a generative algorithm to create something as complex as a functioning, attractive building is “far, far more than a pithy block of language from ChatGPT or even a compelling image from MidJourney. I think the best outcomes would be insight and inspiration from the image generators.”
Naturally, there would be pitfalls, too, he said. “Job loss, bland machine-generated results that get built, and the mass appropriation of generations of architectural knowledge for the AI training sets, absorbed without attribution, recognition or compensation. But these are larger socio-economic and political questions that will be solve far beyond the world of architecture.”
Lu said the architects she talks with — as well as builders, designers and even clients — are eager to check out the brave new world of AI.
“It’s important for us to know that AI isn’t just about generating images and forms,” she said. “We have to go into it with our eyes open — watch out for things like bias in the data, and hallucinations that AI might generate.
“It’s a great opportunity to help us maybe do some of the more routine aspects of our work and let us focus on areas that affect our priorities — climate action, equity and other, more complex problems that we face.”
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