When Randy Deutsch speaks before A/E/C industry groups about the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) in design and construction, he’s convinced some in his audience only hear one thing: “The robots are coming to take our jobs.”

But Deutsch welcomes the coming AI revolution, and he suggests you do the same.

CHANGING DESIGN
An architect, author, and professor at the University of Illinois, Deutsch tells his readers, audiences, and students that AI is here, it’s changing the way architectural design is done, and firm principals should take notice and embrace it.

AI takes the repeatable parts of workflows and processes and automates them, using currently available visual programming tools to complete work in hours that might otherwise take days. While many principals are dragging their feet on adopting this new methodology, design technologists who work for them are driving the use of AI solutions based on computational BIM.

“The technology is already here,” Deutsch says. “The technologists recognize that these solutions are real and highly effective, and they’re bringing them to their bosses saying, ‘we should be doing this.’”

WIN BIDS AND RECRUITS
Why embrace AI? Because it can make firms more productive and could be a key differentiator in winning bids.

“Clients probably won’t care if you tell them you’re using AI,” Deutsch says. “But if you can tell them it makes you faster and less expensive than the other guy? Now they’re listening.”

In presentations to industry groups, he advises, “Be concerned and vigilant but don’t be fearful.” Why concerned? For all its ability to streamline processes, he sees a few drawbacks to AI. The largest might be the effect it’s having on emerging professionals trying to get a foothold in the industry.

“The tasks we are automating, like coding and scripting, are those that are traditionally done by recent college graduates,” he says.

Isn’t that a good thing? It would seem that, by automating entry-level tasks, we’re freeing up these young people to actually do design. Deutsch says that’s not always the case.

“In my experience, most recent graduates would choose to do these tasks as their first step into the profession,” he says. “It’s almost like they see it as an apprenticeship—it’s one way they learn how to think like an architect.” Deutsch says he asks his students: As the next generation of practitioners with next-generation solutions, what role do you want to play?

Deutsch tells firms to think about AI not in terms of survival, but instead, to figure out how to capitalize on its benefits and the changes it brings. He urges professionals to collaborate with the technology to become what he calls “augmented” architects: “Picture yourself working side-by-side next to Watson, the IBM computer. Let the machines do what they does best. You’re still in the driver’s seat, but you’re taking advantage of machine learning that makes repetitive work faster and more efficient.”

And if firms choose to ignore AI? Deutsch has a simple prognosis for the long term: “They’re toast."

This article is featured in the November 2018 edition of theProfessional Services Management Journal (PSMJ) newsletter. In today’s fast-moving information overload world, it seems that there is industry-related content everywhere you look, with some nuggets of advice on how you can be more successful. PSMJ’s carefully-curated content ensures that you are not getting generic filler, hypothetical fluff, or anything but proven battle-tested advice. Check out a free copy available at the link below.