The Artificial Intelligence Impact on the Formation of an Architect's Creative Method

Abstract

Artificial intelligence technologies in architectural design are shaping a new professional and educational reality that requires a re-evaluation of the architect’s role and the structure of architectural thinking. Unlike previous stages of digitalization associated with CAD and BIM technologies, modern generative systems affect not only the implementation of design solutions but also the very foundations of form-making, including compositional search and decision-making processes. The aim of the study is to identify the transformation of the architect’s creative method under the influence of AI, as well as to analyze the cognitive and methodological risks of its use in the educational process. The study employs a comparative analysis of digital tools, including BIM systems, NURBS modeling, and generative AI technologies, alongside a method of theoretical generalization of modern architectural education practices. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of text-to-3D technologies and parametric systems that interpret language as a design tool. As a result, it has been established that AI transforms the role of the digital tool toward "co-authorship" by delegating a portion of generative functions to the machine, while facilitating a shift from visual-spatial thinking to text-oriented interaction with the project. The research identifies risks of cognitive skill atrophy with early AI adoption and highlights the "fundamental gap" in student training caused by a deficit in spatial thinking skills. It is demonstrated that generative models tend to average architectural solutions, leading to a decline in authorial uniqueness. The conclusions justify the necessity of implementing a "conscious design" methodology. This approach suggests the phased integration of AI, the prioritized development of core professional skills, and the integration of manual and digital methods. Furthermore, it emphasizes the ability to work critically with generative tools and use text as a conscious mediator between the idea and the architectural form.