Cultivating the System

This event will engage with educators to think about how we position ourselves in the world of AI as disruptors and critics of commercial AI tool norms. The event will explore the narratives constructed around AI. What power do we give these tools in the way we frame them and who are we including in the stories we tell.

Systems Overhaul: How can Architects embrace AI is a series organised by Kirsty Edginton which explores the intersection of AI, architecture, and action. As AI tools, predominantly owned by large corporations, become increasingly profit driven and reflect Western biases through their training data, there is growing concern about their ethical implications and the agendas behind them. A recent RIBA survey revealed that 41% of architects now use AI, primarily with these out-of-the-box commercial tools. However, open-source and self-coded AI is still accessible and can be taught, allowing for grassroots innovation and disruption.

The collection of talks highlights the work of architects and artists addressing AI's inequalities and designing ethical AI tools. It also explores how AI can be used to inspire us to envision different and imaginative futures. By focusing on these efforts, we can underscore the importance of taking action to shape the future of AI.