I use artificial intelligence (AI) in ways I never experienced with regular word processing software. The topic of “AI in the AEC” is important because AI is already in the process of revolutionizing teaching, learning, and the practice of architecture from this point in history forward.
Many students are already using AI. Some teachers are already using AI. Some schools are already widely using AI. The transition is already underway.
My first presentation about AI was at the “AI in the AEC” conference in Helsinki, Finland, in March 2023. And although today, in 2026, AI is still in its early stages of development, it’s exciting to watch as the technology moves from “experimental” to “essential.” While the spread of AI gives us more tools, it also introduces new challenges.
This cautious adoption of AI in the AEC is one of the reasons I have hesitated to write about the technology previously. I still caution everyone to be careful and aware in their own use of AI. AI can still make mistakes and include incorrect information.
Green building is a broad undertaking. We can benefit considerably if we choose to use AI in our practices of collaboration “across green building in the AEC,” as individuals and in our professional capacities work together. AI is designed to foster and facilitate people working together on extremely complex technical issues—beyond what most humans can manage. The depth of AI’s capabilities is phenomenal and continuing to increase, although AI does come with a flaw that we must be aware of as its tools “move from experimental to essential.”
My own experience with exploring the “augmentation of human intelligence,” which led to incorporating AI knowledgeably into my work, goes back to my college days at the University of Michigan.
When I was at the university in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the school acquired a “mainframe computer.” U of M made the capability of that computer available to some students to increase awareness of the use of interactions that the university was developing. Later I would go on to create the NASA-AIA Advanced Technology Application Committee of NASA/Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., and lead our continuing exploration of the use of computers in education and space exploration.
These experiences have contributed to my thinking on how computers could directly “augment” our own intelligence to assist us in accomplishing things that humans couldn’t accomplish on our own. I’ve always taken a broad view of the building industry and how we can best use advanced computing to improve our work in the design of buildings in the AEC.
An early area of background knowledge regarding AI is related to the work of Douglas Engelbart. In his influential 1962 paper, “Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework,” Engelbart described a hypothetical scenario of an architect using a computer to design, manipulate, and visualize complex structures interactively. This vision was part of his broader goal to use computers to solve complex problems and augment human intelligence, long before computers were generally seen as interactive or personal tools.
In an essay that he wrote in 1962, Engelbart envisioned a system where a human and computer would work together in a cooperative loop, going far beyond simple automation. Key aspects of this idea included:
Interactive visual displays. The architect would work with a computer coupled to a “three-dimensional color display,” where sophisticated images could be constructed and manipulated.
Rapid response. The system would respond rapidly to minimal human input, allowing for a seamless, interactive workflow.
Complex operations. The computer would be able to execute a wide variety of processes on parts or all of the images, following complex rules defined by the architect.
Exploration of ideas. This augmented system would allow the user to explore concepts and designs that were not possible with traditional, non-computer methods.
Engelbart’s specific example was of an architect using a computer as a dynamic design and visualization tool. This was just one of several scenarios he used to illustrate his vision for human-computer interaction. He invented the computer mouse, the graphical user interface, and hypertext. His work beginning in the 1950s led to his patent for the computer mouse, the development of the basic graphical user interface (GUI), and groupware.
In 1997, Engelbart won the A.M. Turing Award, the highest honor in computer science, for his “inspiring vision of the future of interactive computing and the invention of key technologies to help realize this vision.” I worked with him for many years.
Many of the ideas originally promoted by Engelbart inspired related efforts that I was involved with in the AEC, such as The SMART House movement, and then The SMART Village movement of Prof. Solomon Darwin of the University of California at Berkeley.
Here, the ideas of building upon human-computer interaction are examined to see how they can contribute to the betterment of humans, such as by using computers to design more than one building at a time, and considering how to use AI for the development of communities.
These were not the only implementations of Engelbart’s research, but they represent examples of and continuation of the spirit of his work. Prof. Darwin has conducted workshops and programs in more than 18 countries. His more recent projects include “Building Scalable Smart Villages” and “The Rebuilding India Initiative,” which were commissioned by the government of India.
That goal was to create sustainable, high-impact, and scalable villages by connecting them to global markets. It involves a community-driven process to define needs and develop related solutions. Key aspects include a focus on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
I mention these examples to show how the ideas of Augmenting Human Intellect are alive and well. They continue to grow and expand throughout the world, including across the greater building industry.
AI still has some issues. It is in a development stage and will continue to improve. Being aware of these issues and problems is important and will eventually have to be adequately addressed as we go forward. It will be an important aspect of the future success of AI.
In the meantime, we all have to be careful, cautious and aware of AI’s imperfections. We can use AI to help us become better writers ourselves, rather than relying on AI to write articles for us.
I’ll continue to write about “AI and the AEC.” I’ll include:
Responsible AI use in green building and beyond.
A call to action, urging readers to stay informed, engage in discussions about AI ethics, and promote responsible AI practices within their specific areas of work.
Encourage people to reflect on the impact of AI and their own roles in shaping the future.
Be aware of the current federal and state levels of AI laws, which are still evolving. The federal effort to encourage U.S. states to enact artificial intelligence regulations has paused, and national standards are being considered and are being developed.
Get involved in these activities if you can. We can all work together.
Editor’s caveat: As noted in my introduction to this issue, the large-scale financial benefits of AI remain a fraction of the build-up costs, and the negative environmental impacts, so far, vastly outweigh the “green” dividends. The risk of a bubble, or worse, remains a real concern.