What are some of the ethical issues that you are grappling with in your research? What are some of the ways in which you are responding to these questions?

In developing AI agents for architectural design, I’ve been thinking a lot about two main ethical issues: the replacement of human labor and the use of questionable training data. Many AI systems are built on datasets that raise concerns around consent, ownership, and fairness. At the same time, there is a real fear that automation will take over creative jobs rather than support them.

I try to design my tool with the intention of empowering architects rather than replacing them. The goal is to streamline the tedious parts of 3D modeling, so that designers can focus more on concept development and creative iteration. If done right, this kind of AI can enhance the design process and make data-informed workflows more accessible, not less human.

As you continue your research, have you considered alternative viewpoints in your investigation? If so, how have these alternative viewpoints enriched or changed your project?

Recently, I’ve been actively reaching out to architects and professionals in the field to get feedback on what kinds of tools actually fit into their workflow. A lot of what I heard challenged my earlier assumptions about what was useful. Talking to people in the industry helped me shift from building what I thought was cool to building what would actually make a difference in practice.

I also realized that I tend to get lost in technical rabbit holes and forget the larger goal, which is to create something that can have a real, positive impact. These conversations helped ground my project and reminded me to prioritize usability and relevance just as much as technical innovation.