While it's still new and has many areas left to be explored, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a useful tool for some designers. According to Iowa-based architecture firm BSB Design, incorporating AI into the design process can be beneficial in the early stages of a project as it allows for greater efficiency and gives designers the ability to create multiple iterations of a project. In an effort to gauge just how much AI can change the pace of their work, architects at BSB Design recently began using TestFit, a design feasibility platform that speeds up project times and makes initial product recommendations. Ultimately, they say it has changed the way they work.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of AI for planning is its ability to generate massive outputs very quickly. This means a potential site plan can be quickly and easily manipulated to offer options for a wide range of product types, building configurations and open space uses. The end game is still to maximize density and help developers monetize their land at the highest level possible, but AI is delivering iterations that spur interesting conversations about how best to get there.