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How to Use Artificial Intelligence to Your Advantage in Design Projects
The idea that a robot could speak, think and act like people has been a mainstay in the public imagination for decades. From the television show “Lost in Space” in 1965 to the Terminator movies of the 1980s and the current TV show “Humans,” the concept has fascinated generations.
With Artificial Intelligence (AI), that idea has seemingly come to life. AI can write, create and help architects and engineers design projects. The possibilities seem endless.
AI is making great strides every day as people teach computers how to aggregate information to aid in further creation, but remember that AI is still in its infancy.
For example, AI has proven that it can design a new product based on photos of previous versions. While the design is created, it still lacks the ingenuity that would make it stand out as a new product and AI doesn’t take into account engineering performance and design requirements, according to a recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That is where human critical thinking comes in.
However, AI can be useful for architects and engineers in a number of ways.
It can help design professionals begin the creative process. For those whose strong suit doesn’t include writing, AI could stimulate their thoughts so they can communicate their ideas through emails and pitches.
Overall, AI can help speed up the process of taking a design from fantasy to fruition.
Proceed with caution
As with anything, it’s wise to plan ahead and consider any potential pitfalls that could occur in using AI. Once those risks are identified, write an AI use policy to stop them from happening.
Do not allow AI to be used in writing product usage instructions, applications for copyright, or in writing thought leadership or research papers about the product.
If AI such as Chat GPT is used in writing, fact check the information provided and cite sources.
Remember, artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT is trained by using existing writings. The New York Times is currently suing Microsoft and OpenAI for using its works without citation.
Educate your employees on plagiarism and copyright infringement. Whether it has been a few years or a few decades since employees were in school, the old rule still applies. If the work isn’t yours, cite it.
Oswald’s Architects & Engineers practice can help you build a world of protection around our projects. Contact us here to get started.
