Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize our present world. Instead, it's all about computer algorithms doing complex, interpretive tasks efficiently and, dare we say it, intelligently. One area where the promise seems particularly bright is architecture. In many ways, AI is the perfect tool for this field. There's always an element of artistry when it comes to design for buildings and outdoor spaces, but there are a ton of calculations to consider too.

Are machines capable of design? Though a persistent question, it is one that increasingly accompanies discussions on architecture and the future of artificial intelligence. But what exactly is AI today? As we discover more about machine learning and generative design, we begin to see that these forms of "intelligence" extend beyond repetitive tasks and simulated operations. They've come to encompass cultural production, and in turn, design itself.

Designer and Fulbright fellow Stanislas Chaillou has created a project at Harvard utilizing machine learning to explore the future of generative design, bias and architectural style. While studying AI and its potential integration into architectural practice, Chaillou built an entire generation methodology using Generative Adversarial Neural Networks (GANs). Chaillou's project investigates the future of AI through architectural style learning, and his work illustrates the profound impact of style on the composition of floor plans. After an initial study in the potential of AI-generated floor plans, Chaillou's project developed into training and tuning an array of models on specific architectural styles: Baroque, Row House, Victorian Suburban House, & Manhattan Unit. The study reveals how style carries a fundamental set of functional rules that define mechanics of space and control the internal organization of the plan.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and generative design have begun to shape architecture as we know it. As systems and tools to reimagine the built environment, they present diverse opportunities to rethink traditional workflows. Designers also fear they may inversely affect practice, limiting the services of the architect. Looking to building technologies, new companies are creating software and projects to explore the future of design. As cities continue to develop, new tools emerge to change the way architects, contractors and consumers envision and create the built environment.