Shree: AI and Architecture

 

Shree: AI and Architecture

the world can be classified into full, partial and no AI experience. perhaps earlier it was classified as developed verses developing; industrial and non industrial; whites and browns and blacks; north and south; climatic variations; colonial and non colonial.

transformations are ingrained herein. AI is not just a technological tool of analysis and product but of imagination itself and it has penetrated our minds to the extent of informing or sometimes dictating our imagination. it has become as subtle and as fast in evaluating something based on handling as intangible a phenomenon as imagination itself.

according to AI, a thought is a "trace" or a footprint of human action which should be or can be controlled, scanned, analyzed, put to order for billions of purposes dictated by AI. All that therefore gets "refined" from subjected to AI analysis becomes sterilized, ordered, perfect as a built product. Any algorithm not in the language of AI (it may be organic thoughts, feelings, empathy, comprehensiveness, simplicity) is chucked away and hence negated from architecture too. Does the Developed Nations reflect such an attitude and feeling of built environment?

consider what is the mindscape which is not subjected to the influence of AI? this can be similar as an exercise if one compares anthropological studies of industrial nations and pre industrial ones or even earlier studies on pastoral communities or indigenous communities. each of those studies reveals a world view of values and their reflection on built environment. With every change in  mindscape, the expression and perception of built environment seems to change. Then one may encounter values of slowness, climate, community, feelings, empathy, engagement, maintenance, renewal, sustenance and many others. The built environment would reflect such values too. Thus what goes in the mind is expressed as a built environment or as a situation of existence. therefore the mindscape becomes the basis of creating anything - from God to fragmentary output.

i like to believe that thought arises from beyond and requires no justification and hence is beyond AI. Hence the worth of architecture cannot be defined by AI and lies much, much beyond what the AI has to say. Hence it is good that some parts of the world, AI has not reached - those people are saved from the mindscape ravages of AI.  

Of course time may not be good for those people for eternity. sooner or later, AI may reach every corner of the globe and then a person may have  to critically define the terms of engagement with AI. Philosophically, how am I to know the nature of thoughts (potentials and challenges) taking place in  the mind of different societies? The fundamental thing is to realize transcendence beyond any perception of space and time.

Hari Om