Are we thinking about AI all wrong? 🤔

Hey there!

Hope you’re enjoying your summer! It’s hard to believe we just wrapped up Q2. It’s been a whirlwind of travel lately, but on a personal note, I’m excited to be working from our Philippine headquarters for the next few weeks.

I recently got back from AEC Innovate in Austin, and my mind is still racing with new ideas. I arrived exhausted but left completely recharged by the conversations and insights. My single biggest takeaway? AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a complete business strategy.

The opening keynotes really drove this home. Leaders from firms like Populous and Nvidia talked about the importance of owning your data, investing in your people, and setting up internal standards to guide adoption. It’s clear that we can't wait for AI to shape our firms; we have to shape our own AI strategy first. I dive deeper into this on our recent blog post and podcast episode—check them out if you’re curious.

If you’re a firm owner feeling overwhelmed, the message is consistent: don't try to do everything at once. The key is to start small, move at your own pace, and simply begin.

I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Whether you have an AI use case to share, a tool you think I should review, or you’d like to be a guest on the podcast, just send it my way. Let’s keep the conversation going.

P.S. If you’re in a time crunch or approaching deadlines and need drafting support, send your projects our way. We’re ready to jump in. Let's talk!

🎧 New Episode: Why AI Is a Business Strategy, Not Just a Tool — Insights from AEC Innovate 2025

In this episode, I share the key takeaways from AEC Innovate 2025, including how top firms are using AI to transform leadership, business models, and team structures.

I highlight keynotes, firm case studies, and panel discussions from industry leaders, including Deltek, Nvidia, and top architecture firms—emphasizing how AI is impacting everything from design workflows to firm strategy, staffing, and client engagement.

The episode encourages architects and firm owners to rethink AI as more than tech—it’s a business model shift. I also explore the importance of investing in people, data systems, and long-term integration for AI success.

👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts
👉 Listen on Spotify

🏗️ Architecting With AI
See in real-time how AI is used in designing the built environment.

How AI in Architecture is Revolutionizing the Future of Design and Construction. AI is transforming architecture by streamlining design and construction workflows, automating complex tasks, and enabling the creation of more innovative, sustainable buildings.

Designers Take Note: How To Save $4.5 Million with AI. A nine-step implementation plan by Stjepan Mikulic shows how architecture firms can successfully integrate AI to achieve significant cost savings and transform their workflow.

Beyond the Image: Rethinking Architecture in the Age of AI. This article argues that AI challenges conventional creativity in architecture, urging designers to use the technology to provoke new spatial practices rather than just generate compelling imagery.

Circularity on the Edge: AI Finds Reusable Materials in Ukrainian Rubble. AI analyzes drone footage of destroyed buildings in Ukraine to identify reusable materials, promoting sustainability and efficiency in postwar reconstruction efforts.

🗓️ AI in Motion: Events You Can't Miss Right Now

KA Connect 2025. KA Connect 2025 is an annual AEC knowledge management conference, held August 12-15, 2025, at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, focused on “Unlocking the Promise of Knowledge Management with AI” and featuring sessions on AI-powered knowledge sharing, real-world case studies, and flexible, interactive activities for industry professionals.

Ai4 2025. Ai4 2025, taking place August 11-13, 2025, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is North America’s largest artificial intelligence industry event, convening over 8,000 global leaders and experts for keynotes, case studies, and industry-specific tracks covering the latest advancements, applications, and the future of AI across sectors.

🏢 Beyond Design
Get your fill of AI news beyond the field of architecture.

Meta and AWS are teaming up to win over developers in the AI race. Meta and Amazon Web Services have launched a joint initiative aiming to accelerate the adoption of Llama—Meta’s leading open-source AI model—by startups, offering expert support, cloud resources, and funding opportunities to foster innovation and challenge industry rivals.

Global leaders discuss most pressing questions around AI in health care and traditional medicine at UN Summit. At the 2025 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, international organizations highlighted the transformative, ethical, and regulatory challenges of using artificial intelligence to advance public health and traditional medicine, unveiling a technical brief that calls for responsible, context-aware AI adoption and collaboration across global health systems.

‘Catalyst for Progress’: Nvidia CEO Hails China’s AI at Beijing Expo. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised China’s open-source AI models—such as DeepSeek and Ernie Bot—at the China International Supply Chain Expo, describing them as world-class and vital for global AI progress, while noting China’s scientific talent and the country’s critical role in the next era of artificial intelligence.

Thank you for subscribing to the AI for Architects newsletter, the official companion to the AI for Architects podcast hosted by Aya Shlachter! We're thrilled to have you with us as we explore the transformative role of AI in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

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