Computers can replace tedious repetitive activities, “optimising the production of technical material and allowing, among other things, atomise the size of architectural offices. Each time fewer architects are needed to develop more complex projects.”
Fornuately, architecture measures in at less than 2 percent chance of becoming automated, compared to other professions like telemarketers, sewers, and insurance underwriters, which face a 99 percent chance of being replaced by technology in just the next ten years.
Even though most part of an architect's duties may be replaced by AI, it would never manage to completely replace an architect. Decision making, emotion, and conscience are few of the parameters that AI is yet to explore and master.
As history has demonstrated, the profession of architecture is difficult to automate. University of Oxford researchers Carl Frey and Michael Osborne have estimated that architects are one of the least likely professions to be automated in the next 20 years.
In order to effectively adapt to this future, we, as architects, need to shift our focus to the end-user experience, speed to market, the efficiency of programmed space, and efficiency of construction.
Employment of architects is projected to grow 3 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 9,400 openings for architects are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Future: While architects face a risk of disintermediation, they also have new opportunities to reinsert themselves into the design process (reintermediation). Automation, for instance, may sideline architects on particular projects, but it could also enable architects to participate in others.
Are architects in high demand? The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the demand for architects to grow by 1% between 2019 and 2029. Architect job growth is somewhat slower than other fields, but it's still growing in a positive direction.
AI will make the planning process of the architects significantly easier, giving them access to countless amounts of data, creating models, interpreting the building environment, and creating cost estimates. All this information can be easily conveyed to the architect to help shorten design and building time.
Ninety per cent of architects will lose their jobs as artificial intelligence takes over the design process, according to designer Sebastian Errazuriz. The New York-based designer made the controversial claim in a series of movies posted on his Instagram account.
The general consensus is that architects are intelligent, honorable, stylish (e.g. wear a lot of black) creative types … the plus side of being an artist without the “starving” precursor.
Computers are unable to break down the human element into ones and zeroes. And until they can, they can't replace people as architects. The human mind is a complex thing. While we might understand what happens when it functions, we can't often explain it or duplicate the same patterns again and again.
Right now, at least. The study concluded with a cautionary note. It said that just because automation enhances an architect and engineer's work right now, it doesn't mean that automation won't replace that role in the future.
Architects stand to benefit from learning about data, its applications, and how taking small steps now to incorporate artificial intelligence into practice could ensure better business and a stronger profession.
AI architects envision, build, deploy and operationalize an end-to-end machine learning (ML) and AI pipeline. AI architects can help build a robust enterprisewide architecture for AI and collaborate with data scientists, data engineers, developers, operations and security.
Today's architects often use computers and special software to create their designs and models. Commonly used computer assisted design, or CAD, programs make the design process faster by applying common principles of geometry and physics to architectural designs.
We see that many architects actually earn very little, considering the work that they do and the responsibilities they carry. Long hours, a lot of stress, strict deadlines, demanding clients, lots of responsibilities and working during the weekend; all of that for a moderate compensation in a highly competitive market.
Is it actually worth it? The short answer is yes, its a creative, diverse and ever changing subject and profession that provides a huge array of opportunities and avenues to explore. To date, it has been an absolute pleasure to study the subject and work within it as a qualified professional.
Unemployment Rate for Architects
The architecture unemployment rate in 2021 averaged at about 2.9 percent, with the highest rates in January (3.5 percent) and lowest in November (1.4 percent).
The world needs architects – the earth, our continent and country needs architects to address national issues.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.1 percent employment growth for architects between 2020 and 2030. In that period, an estimated 3,900 jobs should open up. Architects use their skills in design, engineering, managing and coordinating to create aesthetically pleasing and safe buildings that serve a purpose.