Why AI Needs Human Judgment For Better Design Decisions
The remarkable role of human judment in a world of AI is something that is often overlooked in the AEC industry. If you want to benefit from the rapid developments in the field of AI you need to include both your judgment and data unique to your firm.
In a world of AI, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of endless analysis, predictions, and "insights". But at Reope, we believe that there’s something irreplaceable in the human judgment that architects and engineers bring to the table. AI might be reshaping our approach to analysis, but without human judgment it will not shape the built environment into spaces where people and nature can thrive.
AI can find patterns—but who makes the decision?
Recent developments in the field of AI is revolutionizing the way we handle data in architecture and engineering. But here’s the thing: AI can’t make the decision for us. It can find patterns in data—but when it comes down to deciding what’s best, the architects and engineers need to contribute with a judgment.
Consider a design decision like whether to add steps or ramps to a public building. AI might tell you which option is most likely to be the best one, but it’s human judgment that makes a value judement and weights accessibility, usability, and aesthetic impact. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about having goals, dreams, desires, ideas and making judgment based on these.
The Real Value of AI: Enhancing Judgment, Not Replacing It
AI in our industry isn’t here to take over. Its real value lies in doing the heavy lifting with data, freeing architects and engineers to focus on the creative, intuitive, and downright human aspects of their work. AI can handle repetitive tasks, analyze trends, and make our workflows smoother, but it can’t (and shouldn’t) replace the complex, nuanced judgment calls that shape meaningful design.
At Reope, we’ve been exploring these opportunities with partners like ATI Project and our CEO has shared some thoughts from this work during his Theather Talk at Autodesk University in San Diego in 2024. To watch the recording of the talk click here:
The Importance of Human Judgment in AI-Driven Design
Include the data unique to your firm in the mix for long term competetive advandtage
One of the key factors in making AI truly valuable is using data that’s unique to your firm. Off-the-shelf data can only go so far—your firm’s specific insights, project history, and design approaches are what set you apart. ATI project, the italian architecture firm, has embraced this by leveraging its own unique data to drive more meaningful analysis and informed design decisions. Read more about the ATI Project approach here: https://atiproject.com/en/news/ati-project-presented-as-case-study/
A Future Where Human Creativity and AI Work Together
As AI continues to advance, it’s crucial that we keep the “human” in the design process. Let’s make use of AI as a powerful tool that supports, rather than replaces, our decisions. Because the buildings, cities, and environments of the future won’t just be the result of data—they’ll be shaped by architects and engineers who use that data wisely.
At Reope, we’re not just building smarter tools; we’re building a smarter way to make decisions.
Endorsed by top experts:
Kristján Karl Kristjánsson
Nordic - Office of Architecture
Reope has saved us and our clients thousands of hours by automating the standardization of our BIM deliveries.
They have helped us deliver high quality data daily with minimal resource use.
Francis Brekke
Oslo Works
The principal element of Suprematism in painting, as in architecture, is its liberation from all social or materialist tendencies.
Through Suprematism, art comes into its pure and unpolluted form.
Magne Ganz
Multiconsult
Without Night Runner, we would be stuck with 'impossible' manual maintenance tasks and with models with severe deviations.It helps us automate the process of standardizing several Revit models in large projects, so the downstream processes for cost calculation and other deliveries stay consistent.
Kristján Karl Kristjánsson
Nordic - Office of Architecture
Reope has saved us and our clients thousands of hours by automating the standardization of our BIM deliveries.
They have helped us deliver high quality data daily with minimal resource use.
Francis Brekke
Oslo Works
The principal element of Suprematism in painting, as in architecture, is its liberation from all social or materialist tendencies.
Through Suprematism, art comes into its pure and unpolluted form.
Magne Ganz
Multiconsult
Without Night Runner, we would be stuck with 'impossible' manual maintenance tasks and with models with severe deviations.It helps us automate the process of standardizing several Revit models in large projects, so the downstream processes for cost calculation and other deliveries stay consistent.