Australia’s peak body for architecture has urged the federal government to prioritise public value and design quality over mere speed in its national AI policy.
In a comprehensive submission to the Senate inquiry into AI and data centres, the Australian Institute of Architects called for the built environment to be officially recognised as a priority sector.
The Institute warned that because AI tools increasingly shape decisions across urban planning, architectural design, and construction, unregulated deployment risks affecting communities for generations.
While acknowledging that AI accelerates project workflows, the Institute emphasised that speed alone should not be the primary metric of success.
Its key recommendations advocate for regulatory frameworks that encourage AI adoption aimed at improving design quality, sustainability, and housing outcomes.
Furthermore, the submission stresses the need to protect architects’ intellectual property, preserve professional human judgement, and fund AI literacy for the workforce.
Without appropriate oversight, the Institute cautioned, AI systems could generate lower-quality developments, inaccessible public spaces, or automated planning decisions that perpetuate historical social disadvantages.
Australian Institute of Architects National President David Wagner FRAIA said that while AI already assists with project administration, visualisation, and sustainability assessments, regulatory oversight must keep pace with technological adoption.
“AI is already radically reshaping the way architects work across the country,” Wagner said.
“This isn’t a question of whether AI can improve productivity – it clearly can. It’s about whether it can improve long-term economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes through good design.”
Wagner added that national policy must balance technological opportunities with safety and accountability.
“The Australian Institute of Architects is calling for practical reform that recognises the built environment as a priority sector in national AI policy – so that Australia can realise the enormous benefits of AI for the built environment while protecting public safety, professional accountability, intellectual property, community trust and long-term public value.”
