UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Frank Jacobus, professor and head of the Department of Architecture in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School, captures the origination of artificial intelligence (AI) in design in a new book he co-authored, titled “Artificial Intelligent Architecture: New Paradigms in Architectural Practice and Production.”
Jacobus and Brian Kelly, associate professor of architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, co-authored the book, which was published by ORO Editions in December 2023. The book includes speculations on introducing AI image generation into architecture and features a collection of works from architects and designers experimenting with new generative programs such as DALL-E, Stable Diffusion and Midjourney.
Jacobus noticed colleagues working with Midjourney, a generative image program, and saw the increased academic dialogue surrounding AI. Jacobus, Kelly and the book’s contributors wanted to document the inception of AI in design and make predictions about its future, creating a time capsule to look back on when AI advances.
“[AI] is happening, and it’s in its infancy,” Jacobus said. “So, let’s take a snapshot of it in its infancy.”
In each chapter, the authors describe a framework consisting of theory and application lenses. Interviews with leading practitioners offer insights into the conversation surrounding AI in professional design.
The book includes images generated not only by Jacobus and Kelly but also contributors: Brian M. Kelly, David Alf, Sarah Asif, Matthew Baran, Stéphane Bauche, Ria Bravo, Michael Chapman, Andrew Clarkson, Karl Daubmann, Tim Fu, Jean Jaminet, Adrian Keytton, Andrew Kudless, Kevin McClellan, Kaveh Najafian, David Newton, Randall Teal, Joshua Vermillion, Jason Vigneri-Beane and Dustin White.
Seeing how the book’s contributors used the generative image tools illuminated to Jacobus how each designer uniquely approaches AI and enables each other to learn more.
“This book allowed me to see how others are using this tool and how they are thinking about AI in very different ways,” Jacobus said.
Jacobus said he hopes that the future of AI will also inspire new heights in design fabrication. As image generation advances in creativity, producers will keep up with innovative designs. Jacobus speculated that the “funky” AI designs created by the programs may challenge fabricators to produce these more ambitious designs in real life.
“There will be an inspiration to produce more, and different and better,” Jacobus said.