Is Architecture going to get eaten by AI?

[Anonymous]

My son is interested in Architecture as a career. I've seen several items suggesting some career difficulties possible for architects. Fair enough.

But if the whole career is going to get replaced by AI designs with a couple of fact checkers on the way to construction, I might suggest he think harder before he gets to application season.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Very interesting question.

It is easier for me to accept that AI will replace a lot of engineering functions, but I wonder whether AI can replace the creative aspect of Architecture.

[Anonymous]

Architecture was always an abysmal career choice. Only the top 5%, maybe 1%, have a great outcome. The rest are glorified autocad monkeys and thus the dangers of AI. Many burn out and do something else. Some end up having lucrative careers after bailing out for real estate development or construction management or even facilities management (I know of one ex-architect who quickly lateralled to facilities management and is now a senior managing director with large accounts under him).

Best to browse architecture books and travel to beautiful cities than pursue a career in architecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Architecture was always an abysmal career choice. Only the top 5%, maybe 1%, have a great outcome. The rest are glorified autocad monkeys and thus the dangers of AI. Many burn out and do something else. Some end up having lucrative careers after bailing out for real estate development or construction management or even facilities management (I know of one ex-architect who quickly lateralled to facilities management and is now a senior managing director with large accounts under him).

Best to browse architecture books and travel to beautiful cities than pursue a career in architecture.

+100

- An architecture major

[Anonymous]

No it won’t. The ai thing is overhyped right now. They are basically having to force us to pay for it via incorporating it into ms office and Google suites, and it’s doing a terrible job. Encourage your kid to study what they want, you have to be able to learn and be flexible in the professional world anyway. If ai does encroach on a specific field they can adapt.

[Anonymous]

Architecture seems like one that could be replaced.

[Anonymous]

Half of all jobs/careers are going to be replaced or deeply changed by AI. Unless you want to restrict your DC to non-office jobs (teaching, nursing), let them follow their passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very interesting question.

It is easier for me to accept that AI will replace a lot of engineering functions, but I wonder whether AI can replace the creative aspect of Architecture.

The majority doing non-creative jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very interesting question.

It is easier for me to accept that AI will replace a lot of engineering functions, but I wonder whether AI can replace the creative aspect of Architecture.

I actually believe the opposite. AI might generate a lot of creative ideas but you're going to need a real expert to confirm that the building will stand and prevent some occasional hallucination that would kill a lot of people.

[Anonymous]

Not an architect, but work with them all the time (love / hate relationship).

There is a ton of work between concept and plan then a ton more between plan and all the trades. I struggle to see how even a knowledgeable client will be able to adequately input all the information required, or at the very least have the vision to adequately define for AI all of the end-of-project details/parameters early enough to accommodate them at framing and rough-in.

But perhaps that's reflective of my lack of vision. I have no question AI can streamline quite a bit of an architect's drafting, but there's going to be a lot of oversight still required.

All of that said, I agree with above poster who suggested architecture is an abysmal career choice. I was relieved when DD moved on from that aspiration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very interesting question.

It is easier for me to accept that AI will replace a lot of engineering functions, but I wonder whether AI can replace the creative aspect of Architecture.

I actually believe the opposite. AI might generate a lot of creative ideas but you're going to need a real expert to confirm that the building will stand and prevent some occasional hallucination that would kill a lot of people.

AI is pretty notable for its lack of creativity (which is great for architecture, since much of the career is really making the same designs with the least risk), but engineers also have to rely a ton on computation and applied Mathematics to make these safety calculations-something a properly trained AI could outpace it on. I don't think engineers will go missing obviously, but there will be a much smaller need for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Architecture was always an abysmal career choice. Only the top 5%, maybe 1%, have a great outcome. The rest are glorified autocad monkeys and thus the dangers of AI. Many burn out and do something else. Some end up having lucrative careers after bailing out for real estate development or construction management or even facilities management (I know of one ex-architect who quickly lateralled to facilities management and is now a senior managing director with large accounts under him).

Best to browse architecture books and travel to beautiful cities than pursue a career in architecture.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Architecture was always an abysmal career choice. Only the top 5%, maybe 1%, have a great outcome. The rest are glorified autocad monkeys and thus the dangers of AI. Many burn out and do something else. Some end up having lucrative careers after bailing out for real estate development or construction management or even facilities management (I know of one ex-architect who quickly lateralled to facilities management and is now a senior managing director with large accounts under him).

Best to browse architecture books and travel to beautiful cities than pursue a career in architecture.

Agreed. It’s always been a tough field. The job market is so cyclic depending on the economy. AI could possibly help with efficiency ie no more all nighters at architecture school!
- Spouse of a newly unemployed architect

[Anonymous]

Human programmers are the gods of AI. AI is a creation, completely subserviant to its creators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very interesting question.

It is easier for me to accept that AI will replace a lot of engineering functions, but I wonder whether AI can replace the creative aspect of Architecture.

Very few architects do creative work.