Creating from a full life (and some unboring news)

Hey there!

“You have to have a full life to be able to create. You cannot create from emptiness.”  - Ralph Lauren (Very Ralph documentary)

Starting my first email of the year with this quote, something to reflect on. This is what happens every January. I reflect and look inward. Why this quote? Because life is moving so fast. We are so “busy being busy,” and it brought up a few questions.

• Are we just working for the sake of crossing items off our to-do lists?

• Have we taken time to reflect on our “why”?

• What truly makes us happy?

• Are we enjoying life?

• Do we find satisfaction, meaning, and significance in what we’re building — and for whom are we really doing all of this?

I started the year with an offsite planning session with our leadership team in Salt Lake City, where we established our top goals for the year. I was in the zone — laser-focused and energized.

Then I realized I had Podfest Expo (a podcast conference) coming up in Orlando, Florida. My daughter, Ana, was still home from college. A heavy snowstorm in Cleveland pushed my flight back a day. I almost canceled.

I’m really glad I didn’t.

Podfest is my favorite conference. It feels like coming home to family. The community and connection are incredible. I’ve grown so much from attending, not just in business or podcasting, but in my personal life. It reminded me how important it is to prioritize relationships, connection, and community.

Writing this from the airplane… my heart is full, and I’m heading home energized, with clarity around my goals. I’m recommitting to nurturing relationships, being fully present with my family and friends, and continuing to build meaningful communities.

That desire for real connection is exactly why I’m building something new — Archicon — a global community and conference for architecture firm owners who want to learn how to grow and sustain their businesses in this AI era.

And here’s why it’s different: we’re creating the only unboring business conference for architects.

• 💕 Experience designed around connection, honesty, and real conversations.

• 🤣 There will be stand-up comedians.

• 💡 Real lessons and actionable content,

• 👏 More collaboration. Less ego.

• 👗👔 Dress code: No black. Color encouraged.

If you’re looking for an unboring conference community of architects, I’d love for you to join our waitlist here: [Link to Waitlist]

Until next time,

P.S. Want more time for life, creativity, and the unboring stuff? We’re happy to take architecture production off your plate. Let’s Talk! Link Here.

🎧 New Podcast Episode: AI in AEC: From Knowledge Management to Intelligent Workflows

What does it take to build a culture where knowledge becomes a firm’s greatest competitive advantage?

In this episode, Aya Schlachter sits down with Christopher Parsons, founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, the team behind Synthesis and the KA Connect conference, to unpack how knowledge management has transformed the AEC industry over the past 15 years.

From the early days of simply capturing information to today’s AI-powered systems that weave knowledge directly into workflows, Chris shares how firms can design intentional learning infrastructures that scale, strengthen teams, and future-proof their practice. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at Synthesis’s new AI search platform, now used by over 80 firms, along with real case studies that show what’s possible when knowledge becomes strategy, not storage.

Key takeaways:

• Knowledge management has evolved from capturing information to integrating it seamlessly into daily workflows.

• AI makes firm-wide knowledge instantly searchable, improving speed, accuracy, and decision-making.

• High-performing firms treat knowledge as infrastructure rather than scattered documents or files.

• Career growth often comes from curiosity and leveraging opportunities during industry transitions.

• Intentional knowledge systems give firms a competitive edge by shifting from reactive to proactive operations.

• Learning management systems (LMS) support onboarding, role transitions, and project-specific training.

• Firms should prioritize capturing only the knowledge that truly drives impact, not everything.

• Successful adoption of knowledge platforms requires aligned champions from both business and practice teams, but upkeep becomes minimal once established.

👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts
👉 Listen on Spotify

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

Top Generative AI Trends in 2026. GenAI evolves to multimodal models handling text, images, and video. Autonomous workflows boost architectural ideation and prototyping. Edge AI enables real-time design without cloud dependency.

Top AI Tools for BIM Architects in 2026. Autodesk Forma leads for pre-design site analysis (wind, noise, daylight). Streamlines Revit integration, feasibility studies, and documentation. Enhances visualization for data-driven decisions early in projects.

Physical AI and Autonomy in Construction. Physical AI accelerates data center earthworks with autonomous operators. Sensors map environments, execute precise plans for 24/7 shifts. Compresses schedules to meet AI compute demands.

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

10th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Control Technologies (AIACT 2026). Feb 2-6, Sydney, Australia. Covers AI automation for design and control. Hands-on for architecture applications. Global experts.

International Conference on Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Engineering (ICOSTAIACE). Jan 26, Perth, Australia. AI/smart tech for engineering and design. Covers computer-aided architecture; workshops included. Attracts researchers and pros.

Agentic AI Transformation Summit. Jan 26-28, Miami, FL, USA. Explores agentic AI for business transformation, with sessions on autonomous design agents and generative workflows. Features 500+ leaders; ideal for architecture AI integration. Register for keynotes and demos.

International Conference on Innovation in Civil, Architecture, Environment and Materials Engineering. Facilitating the exchange of industry-relevant data and valuable information, the International Conference on Innovation in Civil, Architecture, Environment and Materials Engineering, organized by SCIENCENET, held on 31 January 2026 at San Francisco, USA is a stepping stone towards success. Promising highly dynamic networking, this conference lets you connect with researchers, scholars, decision-makers, professionals, and business owners.

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

Elon Musk's Grok Deepfake Scandal Explodes Globally. xAI's Grok chatbot sparks outrage with sexualized deepfakes of women and children. Regulators in EU, India, and Malaysia probe X platform. Highlights urgent AI ethics and content safeguards. 

Physical AI + VR: The Next Metaverse Explosion. Physical AI merges with spatial computing for immersive VR worlds. Humanoid robots and ultrasound chips enable real-world sensing. Zuckerberg's metaverse vision finally viable.

Microsoft's Mega $17.5B AI Push in India: Skilling Millions. Builds cloud infra and trains workforce at scale. Enables global AI access for projects. Boosts tools for international architecture teams.

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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