Architecture remains a highly technology-driven field throughout time. The latest technologies of each period are quickly adopted in architecture. This holds true for today’s hope for Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, AI’s power has prompted various professionals to ask themselves, “Will AI replace them?”

The same question arises in the field of architecture. Can AI replace architects in their role? The simple answer is “No”. Architecture is an exceedingly complex and multi-dimensional creative field. The process of architectural design always requires human or client feedback, or interpretation by humans. Thus, the notion that AI can perform the work of an architect without human interpretation or assistance is simply impossible.

Rather than replacing architects, AI will be used as a crucial tool for architects. The replacement of architects by AI, in another sense, can be stated as “architects who use AI will replace those architects who don’t use it”. Before AI advancements, architects used software merely for creating digital representations of their designs. However, AI enables them to incorporate technology into their design decisions.

With AI advancement, architecture is evolving rapidly. It is important to understand how AI can complement architects and enhance their work:

1.Creating Multiple Design Options for One Project:

One of the significant advantages of artificial intelligence in architecture is its ability to generate an infinite number of design options based on specific criteria. In generative architecture, this is already in practice, where algorithms produce numerous design options based on specific criteria and project goals for human review. With further AI advancement, architects will likely input criteria such as budget, space needs, or sustainability objectives, enabling AI to produce optimized design alternatives for human review more easily.

2.Concept Generation:

AI can rapidly produce photorealistic images. Software like Mid-journey, Dall-e 2, and Adobe Firefly generate stunning visuals from simple text prompts. Architects can use these visuals to develop their project concepts or initially visualize their ideas.

3.Coding:

Although coding is not traditionally the job of an architect, technological advancements now offer architects the opportunity to manipulate software, create new apps, and develop new plugins tailored to their specific needs, which may require coding. Here, AI can write code for architects according to their requirements.

4.Data Management:

AI excels in data management, efficiently handling large amounts of data. Architects often deal with substantial amounts of data in their regular work. AI can be employed to identify patterns in vast datasets, aiding architects in better understanding the data.

5.Literature Review:

Architects conduct extensive research as part of their regular routine, which often involves time-consuming literature reviews. AI can be utilized to summarize papers or data for architects, enabling them to save time and dedicate more time to imagination or other creative work.

6.AR and VR Technology:

Architects can utilize AI-driven virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology to create visuals and presentations of their designs. This allows clients to virtually tour the building and provide valuable feedback. AR and VR technology assist designers in understanding spatial relationships more accurately before actual construction, saving time, effort, and money by minimizing mistakes.

AI technology opens up numerous new horizons in the field of architecture. Shortly, architecture will develop more rapidly, and the practice of architecture will undergo significant changes. It will become more reliant on AI.

Architecture has always been influenced by the technological advancements of the time. We witnessed this during the Industrial Revolution, when architecture underwent significant changes directly influenced by the revolution. The same holds true for the current AI revolution. AI will drastically change the architecture field; however, it does not mean that it will replace architects from their jobs. Nevertheless, failure to adopt AI in practice over time may lead to becoming outdated gradually, potentially resulting in replacement by someone who has embraced AI and upgraded their skills to meet the demands of the generation