It’s no secret that AI has been making serious waves across many industries, and architecture is no exception. Generative tools like Midjourney have spotlighted the potential for AI to revolutionize how architects and designers create and develop spaces.
But what is the current role of AI in architecture? How are professionals integrating this technology into their work and how do they view its potential? Are they cautious or eager to adopt it?
To find answers, Chaos once again teamed up with Architizer to survey 1,227 architecture professionals. We aimed to understand how AI is currently used in architectural practices. The survey delves into AI’s impact on design processes, from concept to completion, and examines its broader implications for the profession.
These findings help guide architects, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders as they explore the complexities and opportunities AI presents in architecture. Whether you're deeply involved in technology integration or just curious about where the industry is headed, this report provides a thorough overview of AI's emerging role in architecture.
This timely report provides fascinating insights into the fast-evolving mindset of architects in the AI era. In the race to remain relevant — and retain creative control over their work — a large number of design professionals are diving into AI, and their aptitude for experimentation makes them the ideal explorers of this new technological landscape.
Paul Keskeys, Publisher and Editor in Chief, Architizer
Who took part in the survey?
The survey reached a wide range of firms and professionals, the majority of which (63%) work in a firm of 20 employees or less. The United States is the most represented location, accounting for around a third of all responses, while the majority of respondents are spread across 100 different countries from around the world.
77% of respondents worked in a practice offering architectural design, but interior designers and urban planners are also well represented. Engineering and landscape architecture were also represented, albeit to a lesser extent.
Currently, around 46% of the respondents are using AI tools for their projects and an additional 24% plan on using it in the future.
Key findings
After delving into the current levels of use, types of application, and future expectations for AI in the AEC industry, our data revealed the following insights:
- AI is steadily becoming a part of architects’ workflows, with its rise being driven by experimentation and self-learning.
- Designers using AI are most satisfied with its application in early project phases, though some are finding inventive uses for it elsewhere.
- There is concern around the current lack of AI regulation and ethical guidelines within architecture.
- Beliefs about the place of AI in architecture are polarized, but most acknowledge the potential value it can bring to the industry.
1. Self-learning is driving the use of AI in architecture
Our survey reveals that more than two-thirds of respondents are currently using AI or plan to do so soon, with a notable rise in adoption as firm size increases. This pattern persists up to firms with 100+ employees, where 55% are utilizing AI tools consistently.
Interestingly, a substantial 60% of those employing AI have done so without any formal training, relying instead on self-directed learning. This figure climbs to 78% when including those who plan to seek training soon.
Furthermore, about one-third of these early adopters point out issues with integration, lack of time for testing and implementation, and a lack of suitable training resources as challenges they’ve faced in adopting AI tools for architectural projects.
TAKEAWAY: This trend underscores the importance of self-driven learning within the architecture community. While formal training could streamline AI adoption, architects are already paving the way forward, showcasing their ability to self-educate and innovate.
2. Architects find AI most useful in early design phases
Survey results show that architects predominantly utilize AI during early design stages, particularly for generating images from text prompts and editing images, with these applications being favored for their speed and adaptability. Notably, over 67% of respondents express satisfaction with the quality of AI-generated renderings in these initial phases. However, this satisfaction declines sharply in more detailed design phases, with only about 30% finding AI renderings adequate for design development and beyond, primarily due to issues with precision and control.
Master planning emerges as the most common service using AI, highlighting its value in early, conceptual design stages. The survey indicates that architects see the greatest potential for AI in conceptual and pre-design phases, with the utility perceived to decrease as projects require greater detail and accuracy.
TAKEAWAY: The initial phases of design benefit from AI's rapid visualization capabilities, yet as projects advance into more detailed stages, the integration of traditional rendering tools remains essential for achieving precision.
3. Early adopters see major potential in AI
There's significant optimism about AI in architecture, with 78% of survey respondents believing AI will moderately or strongly impact design within the next year. Opinions vary significantly among users, with nearly twice as many current users than non-users believing AI will strongly influence the industry. However, while 34% of users report that AI has significantly sped up their design process, the majority (53%) note only marginal improvements.
This difference in perception is more marked in engineering firms, where AI’s impact appears more transformative. Architects are calling for improvements in AI tools, particularly for greater control over output images and the ability to convert 2D images into 3D models, underlining a need for more precise and versatile AI capabilities.
TAKEAWAY: The architectural community is eager to embrace AI's possibilities, yet there's a consensus that tool development must catch up with professional needs for detail and control. As AI evolves, it could become indispensable across all phases of architectural design.
4. Designers explore niche AI applications in architecture
Our survey shows that AI’s use is not just limited to image generation but is also expanding into specialized tasks like layout/plan generation, feasibility studies, and building code and energy efficiency analyses, with about 20% adoption for these specific functions. These niche applications are particularly prevalent in larger firms, where 34% report that AI has significantly sped up their design processes.
This specialization in AI use suggests its capacity to not only improve efficiency but also enhance creative workflows and sustainability efforts in architecture. More than half of the professionals surveyed recognize these broader benefits, indicating AI’s evolving role in deeply transforming architectural practices.
TAKEAWAY: As AI extends beyond basic image generation to influence specialized tasks in architecture, its potential to significantly accelerate and enrich the design process becomes clear. This evolution in AI usage highlights the necessity for continuous development to meet the nuanced demands of the architectural field.
5. AI is here to stay but it still needs to evolve
Survey results indicate strong confidence in AI's transformative potential within the industry. We asked Stjepan Mikulić, an AI in AEC consultant and former Project BIM Lead at BIG, for his thoughts.
"AI is a must-have skill for any future AEC professional. According to Chaos and Architizer's State of AI in Architecture report, a whopping 86% of more than 1,200+ respondents believe that AI will play a significant role in the future of architecture, with 74% saying they're likely to increase their use of AI in the next year. It's clear — the AEC industry understands the challenges we face every day and hopes that AI will help us overcome them!" - Stjepan Mikulić, Founder & CEO, AI in AEC
Despite this optimism, over half recognize AI's current limitations, particularly "limited functionality for architecture," pointing to a need for more advanced AI solutions.
Interestingly, 70% of architects are comfortable using AI-generated design suggestions. This comfort varies by firm size: in firms with less than 20 employees and those with more than 100 employees, a higher percentage are very comfortable with AI—indicating these smaller and larger firms are more adaptable to new technologies. In contrast, medium-sized firms, those with 20 to 99 employees, exhibit more caution, likely due to specific workflow and client considerations that come with their scale.
TAKEAWAY: With a strong majority of architects optimistic about AI's potential, there is a broad expectation that AI will soon be standard in architectural design, provided it continues to evolve to meet high professional standards and solve existing challenges.
6. Concerns about AI and jobs vary, but agreement on ethical guidelines is strong
As the adoption of AI continues to spread across the architectural landscape, concerns about its impact on job security are surfacing.
Overall, 52% of respondents express either "very" or "somewhat" concern about AI's potential to disrupt job security within the architectural visualization and the broader AEC industry. Conversely, 48% feel either neutral or not concerned at all, indicating a divided sentiment on this issue.
These concerns are not isolated but correlate with the respondents' engagement with AI technology. Those actively using AI show varying degrees of concern compared to those who have yet to adopt it, which might suggest that familiarity with AI could either alleviate or confirm worries about its implications for employment.
Despite these concerns, a significant majority (74%) agree that there should be ethical guidelines governing AI's use in architecture. This consensus highlights the need for industry standards that address intellectual property, quality assurance, and transparency in AI applications.
TAKEAWAY: The architectural community is aware of AI's transformative potential and its associated challenges. As professionals navigate these changes, the call for ethical standards becomes increasingly vital to ensure that AI's integration into architecture supports rather than undermines the workforce. This ongoing dialogue will likely shape the future roles of AI in the industry, balancing innovation with job security considerations.
Interested in exploring these trends further? Dive into the full report by Architizer and Chaos
for an in-depth look at the stats and insights.
Overview
All in all, this survey showed that AI is becoming increasingly important in architecture. Most professionals agree that it speeds up early design work and improves detailed tasks.
Opinions differ on how AI might affect jobs, but many agree on the need for rules to make sure AI helps the profession.
This mix of excitement and caution shows that the architectural community is ready to use AI more, blending new technology with established practices.
