The architect principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, Patrick Schumacher, revealed that the firm has adopted artificial intelligence as a tool for the development of most of their projects.

In a recent roundtable about how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing architecture and design, Schumacher gave a presentation about Zaha Hadid Architects’ use of image-generating technology.

The architect showcased an extensive catalog of images created using DALL-E 2, Mid Journey, and Stable Diffusion,  that fit seamlessly with the fluid style of its founder, the Queen of the Curve, Zaha Hadid.

Schumacher, who has been outspoken about  of computer-aided, parametric design, commented that in some aspects of the creative process, “AI is much more fertile than most of us.” And so, it seems, he starts with a mirror — which makes him a curator of whatever images emerge. “Any of what comes out of this, I claim authorship for it in terms of validating, selecting, elaborating,” he says. “So I feel very kind of empowered by all this possibility.”

Imagen por Cadop.

DALL-E and CLIP are two cutting-edge AI models developed by OpenAI. DALL-E uses a GPT-3-based model to generate images from textual descriptions, while CLIP is a neural network that can understand visual concepts in images and relate them to textual concepts. MidJourney is a tool that combines these models to allow users to create custom images by entering text descriptions and manipulating various image parameters. The result is a powerful tool for creative expression that allows users to bring their imagination to life in a whole new way.

Online AI tools such as DALL-E 2 generate an image in seconds from text prompts. Since emerging within the last year they have gained huge attention and sparked a debate about how AI could upend the creative industries.

“For me it’s always been very similar to verbal-prompting teams, referencing prior projects and ideas and gesticulating with my hands,” said Patrick Schumacher in the roundtable discussion. “That’s the way of generating ideas and I can do that now directly with Midjourney or DALL-E 2, or the team can do it as well on our behalf, and so I think that’s quite potent.”

Artificial intelligence has been a subject of controversy in architecture, with some architects and designers concerned that automation may replace their creative role and diminish their value in the design process. Others argue that artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance the design process and enable architects to explore new creative possibilities. As technology continues to advance, the discussion about the role of artificial intelligence in architecture is sure to continue.