How AI and automation are forcing architecture and construction into the future
While digital tools revolutionize design, the construction industry is struggling to keep up.
When the world first experimented with tools like DALL·E, OpenAI’s text-to-image generator, a few years ago, the resulting images followed familiar themes. Alongside whimsical depictions of raccoons in spacesuits and unicorns on the moon—common prompts in early AI-generated art—another subject frequently emerged: buildings. Imagination was unleashed. Users created everything from a Sydney Opera House redesigned as a McDonald’s to dog kennels built from sushi, and even apartment buildings wrapped in lace fabric. The trend signaled something to architects: We can do this too.
"We are sleepwalking into the abyss," warned British architect, curator, and author Neil Leach, who has become a leading critic of generative AI in architecture. "The profession of architecture could be at an end," he added. Leach may have a point. Soon after his prediction, a survey by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) found that 41% of UK architects were already using AI in their work. Upon releasing the findings, RIBA President Muyiwa Oki declared: "There’s no turning back."
The rise of AI in architecture
“We use AI to automate project and document management, but only in a limited way,” said one respondent in the first-of-its-kind survey, published last year. Another noted: “We use virtual environments to assess how to significantly reduce the carbon, energy, water, and waste footprints of physical construction.”
Few professions are as vulnerable to AI disruption as architecture—yet the impact of AI on the industry remains under-discussed. Architecture combines two areas in which AI excels: creativity and large-scale planning. The profession requires both innovative thinking and meticulous execution, two qualities AI can simulate with increasing accuracy. Add to that the fact that architects must operate under financial constraints—an area where technology offers cost-cutting solutions—and it becomes clear why AI’s influence in the field is growing.
"AI in architecture is a double-edged sword," says architect and urban planner Or Arie Shiner of De La Fontaine Architects, who also lectures at the Technion’s Faculty of Architecture. "On one hand, it liberates us from tedious work, allowing us to focus on creativity. Tasks that once took hours—drawings, modeling, revisions—are now completed in seconds. This enables us to focus on big ideas, strategy, and the narrative behind a structure. But if we lose control over the creative process, we risk architecture becoming generic and uninspired, driven purely by cost-cutting rather than vision."
When language becomes as important as creativity
AI is also reshaping the administrative and regulatory aspects of architecture. Some AI tools allow users to upload complex design documents and query them conversationally, making it easier to understand and comply with building codes. But as AI’s role grows, fundamental artistic and philosophical questions arise:
- What defines great architecture?
- Can AI replicate human creativity, or will it merely recycle historical designs?
- Will AI-powered tools empower architects or make them obsolete?
Critics argue that AI will encourage laziness, as architects increasingly rely on historical reproductions rather than original designs. With many architects using similar AI tools, the risk of architectural homogeneity—a world filled with uninspired, repetitive designs—becomes real.
"AI won’t eliminate architects, but it will reshape their role," says Shiner. "Repetitive tasks are being automated, allowing architects to focus on strategy, creativity, and process oversight rather than technical execution." However, he stresses that architects must master the language of AI to remain in control. "Those who can clearly articulate their vision to AI tools will lead the field. Those who can’t will be left with generic, uninspired designs."
4 View gallery
Visualization of an urban renewal project in Haifa produced by a text-to-image generator
Construction must evolve alongside architecture
The impact of AI on architecture is already evident, but the construction industry has been slower to adapt. Construction remains one of the world’s most traditional industries—so much so that an experienced builder from a century ago would still recognize many modern job sites.
That said, the sector is on the brink of disruption. A McKinsey report estimated that construction efficiency could improve by 50%-60% through digitalization. A Deloitte survey found that firms that adopt digital technologies see a 23% increase in efficiency and a 17% reduction in costs.
"The construction industry is responsible for 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 8% coming from concrete production," says architect Shany Barath, head of the Technion’s Laboratory for Technological Innovation in the Built Environment, which specializes in robotic 3D printing.
3D printing could provide an alternative to concrete, replacing traditional materials with more sustainable options. "3D printing allows for material savings, waste reduction, and the use of new materials," says Barath. Her lab is experimenting with biological materials that absorb carbon and liquefied wood, which can be 3D-printed like concrete.
Despite the promise of 3D printing, adoption remains slow. In the U.S., only a handful of companies have built homes with 3D printers. One, ICON, announced in 2023 that it had completed an entire 3D-printed neighborhood—only to lay off a quarter of its employees months later. Meanwhile, in China, Winsun has printed entire high-rise buildings, demonstrating that widespread adoption is possible if the industry can overcome its regulatory and logistical challenges.
"The biggest hurdle is regulation," says Barath. "Standards for 3D-printed concrete are just now emerging. But there’s no standard for 3D-printing with renewable or biological materials. We need a shift in thinking—not just about materials, but about how regulations can support innovation."
Will Trump slow down the adoption of green construction technologies?
While construction technology investment surged in the past decade—reaching $50 billion—the trend slowed in 2024. The industry raised just $3.5 billion, its worst year in recent history, compared to $8.1 billion in 2020.
Trump’s re-election and his administration’s skepticism toward green energy could further stall progress. Meanwhile, high interest rates and declining home sales have dampened investor enthusiasm.
Yet, some startups continue to thrive. Sublime Systems and Fortera, which are developing carbon-free concrete, raised $85 million and $75 million, respectively. Quilt and Sealed, focused on energy-efficient construction, raised $33 million and $30 million. Other companies, like PermitFlow and GreenLite Technologies, are working on automating building permits to streamline construction timelines.
Israel, too, is home to cutting-edge construction startups. But the economic slowdown has taken its toll—Veev, an Israeli company that raised nearly $600 million for modular home construction, was forced to shut down in 2024.
The road ahead
Technology alone won’t revolutionize construction. A combination of AI, 3D printing, regulatory reform, and skilled workforce development will be necessary. AI can streamline design and planning, but the industry must adapt its materials, workflows, and regulations to stay competitive.
While automation, 3D printing, and AI could dramatically reduce costs and emissions, they will only take hold if the construction industry is willing to embrace them. The companies that successfully integrate these technologies will accelerate project completion, cut costs, and remain competitive—in an era where high-quality, affordable, and sustainable construction is more essential than ever.
