Socio-Sustainable Architectural Design Through Ethical Implementation of Generative Design and Artificial Intelligence

The design and valuation of buildings require a weighted assessment of many qualitative and quantitative values; the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially enhance this process and the built environment. However, preserving the ethics and social sustainability of architectural design is crucial. Generative Design (GD) can potentially add value to new buildings and improve functionality and sustainability by generating design while weighing many quantitative measures effectively (e.g., functionality, economy, energy performance etc.). Generative AI (GAI) can potentially generate and assess designs based on learning from large sets of quantitative and qualitative data. However, underlying qualitative social, cultural, and ethical values usually considered by architects pose challenges to quantitative GD tools, and GAI faces ethical challenges including bias, transparency, and accountability. These underlying qualitative values can significantly influence the social sustainability of projects. An omission of these values may result in a less comprehensive decision-making process and a built environment that lacks essential qualities. This research utilized a survey of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professionals to assess their use of and trust in AI. The focus is on their concerns regarding the ethics of AI implementation and their views on social sustainability values, which may not be considered in AI decision-making. The survey results were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods and laid the ground for the future development of a framework for quantitatively integrating the qualitative variables into collaborative and comprehensive decision-making processes. The goal is to provide a more ethical and sustainable built environment.