My daughter recently asked me why people would pay me to design their homes when they could do it themselves. I responded that this is a good question and that good design is more than just designing and drawing blueprints. It all comes down to knowing when to ask the right questions, what to do with the answers, and when to act on them. This is what it truly means to be a seasoned professional in any field. 

However, it made me wonder what will become of the architect with this new generation of AI's ability to rapidly generate high-performing design alternatives.  It will undoubtedly have an impact on the industry, and with its rise generative design will increase. This will logically cause many to wonder what the future holds for the architect. Will we become extinct? The truth is that while these new technologies will undoubtedly change the industry, they will never replace the architect's workflow.

Architects have long used generative design to investigate design goals and features such as performance, space requirements, cost, materials, and manufacturing methods. What has changed is the speed with which data sets can be studied, and all viable options can be evaluated. It's like having a visual representation of what's going on in the mind of an architect on steroids! While these technologies may blur the distinction between man and machine, they will never replace the intuition, creativity, and critical thinking that distinguishes us as humans: knowing when to ask which questions, what to do with the answers, and when to act on them. 

The rise of AI and generative design is therefore no cause for alarm. Rather, these technologies offer the potential to transform how we communicate design, and construct buildings. We can push the boundaries of what is possible and create structures that are beautiful but also affordable, functional, energy-efficient, and sustainable. Let us embrace this new technology and use it to create better ideas and build better structures in the real world.