Decisions We Should Put in the Algorithm: Mapping architects’ attitudes towards computational and AI-powered tools for practice

Artificial intelligence has gained widespread popularity both inside the profession and outside of it. Much work has gone into creating new tools for AI-powered workflows that can go into architectural design, yet the field of architectural computing has focused less on attitudes that practicing architects have towards these tools. In this article, we present a qualitative analysis of interviews with eight practicing architects on their understanding, use of, and attitudes towards AI for architectural practice. We structure our findings in three categories: matters of fact (how architects use technology now, and their use and understanding of AI tools), matters of concern (what participants view as problematic in terms of AI-powered tools for design), and matters of time (how the future of the profession is seen and imagined). Participants believe their work has gained vastly from digitalization in terms of speed, precision, communication across disciplines and with clients, and simply designing things that were impossible before. There are however also perceived limitations on creative expression imposed by technological tools, a sense of anxiety about keeping up to date in a constantly shifting technological landscape, and a serious lack of trust, expressed by all participants, in AI-powered systems.