A.I in Architecture

Intro to AI

AI or Artificial Intelligence is the use of computers to compute large amounts of data to give outputs similar to the human mind. The mark of a true AI is the capability of self learning and decision making. In the early 17th century, scientists tried to describe the working of the mind as a series of mechanical functions and thus the concept of AI slowly started taking shape. Computers were created in this image and it has been evolving from the early 19th century to what it is today. Over the years of it developing, the various uses of AI started to make its way to the surface. In the current scenario, there are still a lot of advancements being brought about to create a more optimised and streamlined AI system.

My interest in AI began with its introduction in mainstream Hollywood movies like Eagle Eye, The Matrix Trilogy, and I-Robot. As the concept of AI grew, so did its complexity in movies, like Jarvis in marvel movies and in games like Halo series as cortana assisting the chief. As I saw more and more of AI, my love for it grew. Slowly AI started to make its presence known in my YouTube wall and I found myself watching more and more videos about it. As my interest in the topic started to peak, I heard about its application in the industry I was planning to enter and I was overcome with joy.

AI in architecture

The incorporation of AI in architecture is still relatively less and a lot of people are pioneering its many capabilities. Computer Aided Design is the most basic version of getting a computer to help with blueprints.In 1950, Dr. Paul J. Hanratty invented a numerically controlled program that allowed designers to draw simple lines with a computer. Granted this was in the time where a single computer used to take an entire room but he is still considered to be the father of computer aided drawing.

In the 1970’s CAD reduced the time of making blueprints and the main advantage was the simple nature of making corrections to the drawings. This helped the software gain huge traction in the field and it is now a fundamental requirement for an architect to know basic softwares.

There are a bunch of advantages seen in the present day and along with future predictions of the impact of AI on the market.

Present Day changes:

• The ability for AI to take in limitless data has vast applications in our field, namely in the initial procedure of design where we are required to take in large amounts of data like building regulations, zoning regulations, Vasthu (If you are India) among others. It speeds up the process based on past work and is able to give us real time data based on inputs we give it.

• Parametric design is taking the field by storm and we are all too familiar with the work of Zaha Hadid, many of them criticizing her vivid curves and exploratory style of design. AI is expected to make parametric design more common. I for one can vouch for this based on the minimal work experience I have received, in which we have tried to incorporate parametric design as much as we possibly could with large budget constraints and other issues we face in the current work environment. Here’s to hoping this prediction comes to fruition and we can all bring out our inner Hadid.

• Currently there are softwares like, ‘depthmapx’ which is a space syntax software that allows us to analyse partial network on multiple levels without actually having to be physically present. This software is currently used in Bartlett in UCI.

Future changes:

• Construction of buildings are expected to become quicker with the use of machines and drones. Granted this may take away certain jobs but hey, who are we to stand in the way of development? I don't know, this point has me having mixed feelings. I’d love to see drones and machines build a structure with much higher precision and accuracy but at the same time the thought of people losing their job doesn’t sit well with me.

• Smart cities are going to become a thing. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to move into a city that looks like something out of The tron legacy. Everything becoming smarter and more efficient seems like a really good deal to me.

• We are already familiar with that weird video of a computer assistant developed by facebook that can mimic Morgan Freeman’s voice to welcome you home after a long day. What happened to that? I was so sure that it would take the industry by storm, being the market professor at the age of 17-18 that I clearly was. But Interiors in our homes are getting smarter and we have ipads that now control everything with a touch of a button, or should i say touch on a screen, are those one liners still socially acceptable in this modern day and age? Damn, is this what it feels like to be old?

• Memory helps us identify a lot of things, our first home, the first neighbourhood we were a part of, our school that we all used to hate, or was it just me? These memories are now used to help create old cities that have been destroyed over time and we can create a virtual world where these old buildings are present and we can actually move around them. It just seems like a live version of Assassin’s Creed if you ask me but hey, if it helps people, I’m all for it. If it makes its way into a game, even better!

Don’t get me wrong, we are a long ways away from having a witty conversation about life’s wonders with our very own ‘J.A.R.V.I.S’ but hey, a man can dream, can’t he? Oh wait, it’s 2020, a person can dream, can't they! (Hopefully I used universally accepted pronouns, fingers crossed). But it is clear that we are heading towards a time where that may all be possible. But for now, if anyone is still with me in these final lines of this blog, you should check out, “The Age of A.I”, a series on youtube which talks about the present advancements on AI. Thank you for reading through my first blog, with the plethora of errors it may have. See, I’m actually smart, I know words like ‘plethora’. Please hit me up with some constructive criticism if you can take the time off your valuable day and help me improve my blogging skills (I’m sure I need it). Until the next one, have a good one!