Episode 49: Data and Decision-Making in Algorithmic Architecture

Architecture has always been shaped by people who decide what gets built, where, and for whom. Today, those decisions are increasingly informed by data, optimization models, and artificial intelligence. But as algorithms begin to influence zoning, building form, circulation, and even aesthetics, a new question emerges: who is really designing our cities?In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser speaks with Elif Deveci about how AI-driven tools are reshaping architectural authorship and urban decision-making. The conversation explores how optimization algorithms prioritize efficiency, profitability, and performance metrics—and what may be lost when social, cultural, and human values are reduced to data points.Through examples ranging from generative urban layouts and parametric facades to smart-city infrastructures and predictive planning models, the episode examines how algorithmic design can be redirected toward more inclusive and context-aware architecture.Rather than rejecting technology, this discussion asks how architects can reclaim agency—using AI as a tool for insight rather than authority—and ensure that the future city remains a human, ethical, and culturally grounded space.