The prospects of AI have stirred the artistic community and created a clear divide between those who fear their careers are at risk and those who see this as an opportunity to better their craft. When Revit and 3D software were introduced, designers were cautious; however, they did not replace the architects but only streamlined their sequence of work, allowing architects to focus on creativity and details of their projects. Oxford University ranked architecture as the 2nd most challenging degree in the UK, entailing at least seven years of brutal hard work to finally become a licensed architect. Still, artificial intelligence has the potential to render their dedication and qualifications useless; it is understandably a nerve-wracking time.
How the artistic community feels about AI
Many artists believe AI is being pushed in the wrong direction as it could be used to make mundane but vital chores easier, such as processing your tax refund. Author Joanna Maciejewska wrote that she wants AI to do her laundry and dishes so that she can do her art and writing, not vice versa. Artificial Intelligence allows anyone with access to the internet to plug a brief idea into an art generator, and the text will prompt an elaborate art piece or architectural model. A text as simple as “a building on the side of a cliff” can generate astonishing architectural imagery that attracts more attention than real photographs of existing architecture. Art and Architecture require a unique skill set to thrive in these industries. Many designers are disheartened by the abrupt idea of unqualified people having the tools to promote extravagant, unrealistic architecture and artwork. Many architects who work with AI technology use social media to promote their work and gain hundreds and thousands of likes in comparison to a few hundred likes, which many physical architects receive.
From another point of view, AI is a powerful tool that allows creative people who may not have the privileged resources to explore their ideas. Many artistic minds cannot afford to put
themselves through such a long university experience, but they still have passions they desire to fulfil. In addition, many architecture graduates may struggle to conceptualise their vision with standard 3D software, whereas AI software could bring their vision to life. AI has created a new career path for visionaries, enabling them to explore their creativity through art generators such as Midjourney and promote their work on social media, where they can receive monetary advances, a prospect unheard of before Artificial Intelligence.
How much can I accomplish?
There are many legal technicalities in designing and constructing buildings that AI simply cannot achieve at this moment. The engineering must be nearly flawless to erect a safe building, and this can only be achieved by humans. In the building magazine, Thomas Lane suggested that AI currently (2023) has the potential to carry out up to 37% of the tasks that architects and engineers would typically handle. The potential power of AI has generally caused concern among the artistic community as this could simply be a stepping stone before AI advances even further. AI is currently far too flawed and without being revised multiple times by people; AI generators often leave images with apparent mistakes such as people with three arms. It’s safe to say there’s still a dominating need for real architects and artists in the near future, but this is not to say this status is permanent.
Technology progresses each day, and artificial intelligence will progress alongside it as more and more people depend on it. Besides AI art generators, AI tools can assist architecture practices by finding sustainable and efficient solutions, extracting urban site analysis data, cost summarisation, and even building maintenance. In general, AI offers a helping hand for day-to-day tasks involved in the architecture and construction process. RIBA conducted their first industry-wide AI survey and reported that one in three practices claim they are actively developing what their practice can offer through AI, with 11% considering themselves ‘leading digital innovators’. Almost half of the UK’s practices have adopted AI, and although this may seem average, this is a substantial increase compared to just five years ago. With this considerable increase in adoption in the industry, artificial intelligence will undoubtedly evolve over time until it can automate more than 37% of the tasks in practice. Artificial intelligence may not be replacing designers any time soon. Still, it goes without saying that ignoring the tools AI has to offer will only leave the adamant designers in the past. For these designers who have deemed AI a threat to their craft, ignorance may only damage them. This software is an opportunity for designers to take their skill and determination to new heights, achieving goals that once seemed unreachable.
References:
Maciejewska, J (2024). AuthorJMac. [social media format]. Available at: https://x.com/AuthorJMac/status/1773679197631701238
Matoso, M (2023). Will artificial intelligence replace architects? [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1007802/will-artificial-intelligence-replace-architects#:~:text=AI%20can%20rapidly%20produce%20visual,during%20the%20initial%20project%20phases.
O’Brien, S (2023). AIArt: why some artists are furious about AI-produced art. [online]. Available at: https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/trends/artists-mad-at-ai
Oxford Summer Courses (2024). 10 hardest degrees in the UK, ranked. [online]. Available at: https://oxfordsummercourses.com/articles/hardest-degrees-in-uk/
RIBA (2024). Artificial Intelligence: how are architects using AI right now and what are they using it for? [online]. Available at: https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/artificial-intelligence-in-architecture
Images :
Image 1. RIBA (2024). Art-generated desert architecture. [AI image]. Available at: https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/artificial-intelligence-in-architecture
Image 2. Manas Bhatia. Art-generated architecture in a tree trunk (2022). [AI image]. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/ai-architecture-manas-bhatia/index.html
Image 3. Ayla Rahmoun (2023). Art-generated architecture. [AI image]. Available at: https://parametric-architecture.com/15-best-ai-image-generators-you-should-try/
Image 4. Parametric architecture (2023). Art-generated street architecture. [AI image]. Available at: https://parametric-architecture.com/15-best-ai-image-generators-you-should-try/
