In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been getting a lot of attention. It has been a subject of constant debate as to whether it is a boon or a bane. The debates are never-ending, from fears of AI replacing humans to a dystopian future where machines would take over.
AI has become an over-hyped buzzword across many industries, including the design world. But it is still mostly unknown, and figuring out exactly how it will work in the design world is pretty much like trying to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Currently, there are ongoing conversations between designers and developers around the future impact of AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning… VR, AR, and MR (virtual, augmented, and mixed realities), and how our jobs may change. As AI is said to be “a machine that can act using human-style reasoning or perception”, it does sound intimidating. There’s also underlying anxiety about what that could imply for designers — that AI will be ideating, designing, and presenting creative work. Will AI really replace designers? While some think it may, we are of opinion that it will not replace designers but in turn, become a partner to them.
AI holds a lot of potential for the design world, but for this to happen the hype around it needs to be addressed. Designers need to clear their minds and think of AI as an efficient way to work. AI is mostly going to revolve around optimization and speed. Working with AI can help designers create designs faster and more cheaply because of the increased speed and efficiency it offers. The power of AI will lie in the speed at which it can analyze extensive amounts of data and suggest design adjustments. A designer can simply pick and approve adjustments based on that data. AI will be like a virtual assistant to the designers that will take care of the usual tasks while the designer gets to focus on ideas and creativity.
In terms of creativity, the human mind is unmatched. Designers don’t need to worry as AI will not replace us, at least not for the time being. Instead of being a threat to the design world, it will offer several exciting opportunities. The key to leveraging those design opportunities is for designers and AI to work together to make the most out of them. Technology in the past made us stronger and faster, but AI will make us smarter.
