At this month’s Southern California Development Forum’s Discussion Panel, Emily Olman, CEO & Chief Media Officer of Hopscotch Interactive, led an engaging discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence, known as AI, in design and construction. The conversation highlighted AI's ability to streamline workflows, increase accuracy, and support better decision-making, and clearly it will impact the entire industry.   

To share insights, panelists Sophie Pennetier, Founding Director of Digne; Ed Krafcik, Senior Director at Metropolis Technologies; Matt Ducharme, Principal at Woods Bagot; and Sam Omans, Senior Manager of Architecture Industry & Business Strategy at Autodesk, discussed how AI was being used in their companies. All four emphasized how AI can empower human creativity and play a critical role in addressing environmental sustainability. 

Key takeaways included: 

• AI in Operational Efficiency and Real-World Applications  

All the panelists agreed that AI is seen more frequently in our offices as well as our lifestyles more than anyone actually realizes. Omans chimed in on this topic by noting that ChatGPT is the most used platform, reigning in with 20.03% of the searches per month. He explained that using ChatGPT becomes more intuitive with practice, as refining your questions on the platform improves the results. 

Krafcik agreed and explained that ChatGPT is also useful in communicating difficult messages with clients. If he just submits his ideas and asks the platform to format the message into an email, ChatGPT will save him time creating his responses.  

Pennetier concluded that AI helps her to “do more and think less” in a pinch. The panelists concluded that ChatGPT is a great tool for all industries and should be seen as a timesaver, not as a crutch. 

• AI’s Impact on Sustainability and the Environment 

Pennetier’s consulting firm, Digne, leverages AI to address climate change and implement sustainable practices in their construction efforts. 

“AI allows us to run permutations much faster than humans. For instance, by increasing the amount of recycled content in metals, steel, aluminum, and glass, we reduce the energy required to produce them, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions. By thoughtfully considering how we compose these materials, we can significantly reduce the embodied carbon in the built environment,”Pennetier explained. This approach not only promotes sustainability but also contributes to a more efficient and eco-friendly construction industry. 

• AI’s Role in Education and Skill Development  

When most people start their careers, they learn soft skills by accomplishing mundane tasks. An audience member shared his concerns that AI will be a detriment in learning these soft skills. The panelists all disagreed with this statement. To alleviate the audience member’s doubts, Omans compared the expansion of AI to other historical discoveries.  

“If we think about European art, many canonical architects that were doing great work had dabbled in painting, sculpture, and other forms of media. Some of these new tools we are talking about are somewhat the same thing. This is like an expansion of our palette. These new tools can expand our knowledge and creativity, ultimately leading us to new discoveries,” said Omans. 

However, he advises that we must have agency in our experimentation, or else we will lose discipline. If we continue to use AI when it is not needed, we will lose those skills. Ducharme agreed with Omans and included that our curiosity and hunger for knowledge will never go away, but the way we learn will change as technology grows.  

Krafcik reflects this issue of discipline back on the companies. He suggested that the real issue might not be AI itself, but rather the work environment that young employees find themselves in. 

 “Soft skills do not go away, but they do go away if you are not in the office. How do you get people back into the office?” he said.  

It is easy for employees to work from home, but are young workers gaining valuable learning experiences like they would in an interactive office? This reasoning is why Krafcik suggests that companies should examine the architectural design of their offices. There may be opportunities for improvement that could satisfy the professional and social needs of these employees. 

• AI’s Role in Enhancing Human Potential 

As AI advances into our workplace, many people feel that AI will impact job security. An audience member proposed the question: “How do we [as design professionals] not diminish our value by using AI?” 

Suggestions included staying up to date on new design tools and bringing an entrepreneurial spirit back into the workplace. A discussion was held on "What value do you add to your work with your own human intelligence?”   

Ducharme agreed and also added that AI would never replace human intelligence. As humans, we have to adapt to the changes and use the tools we have to our advantage. This involves spending the extra time gained from using AI technologies to produce outstanding design projects. 

There is no question that AI is here to stay. The overall consensus was learning to use it as a great tool to enhance what we as designers bring to the table, not replace it. No doubt this will be a hot discussion topic moving forward.