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The AI and non-AI in You
Week 29 – Jul 20, 2025
Lately, I’ve been thinking less about what AI can do and more about what it shouldn’t.
AI is a powerful lever — it can move faster, compare more, simulate better. But it’s only as effective as the clarity of your intent. That means before we talk about tools, we need to talk about you.
There’s a part of your work that AI can handle:
🔸 Redlining late at night
🔸 Comparing versions of drawings
🔸 Sorting site photos
And you should absolutely let it. That’s the AI in you — the part of your process that’s structured, automatable, and repetitive. AI can accelerate that.
But then there’s the other part. The part that AI can’t touch:
🔹 Talking to your client who doesn’t know what they want yet
🔹 Reading between the lines of a messy site visit
🔹 Feeling the story of a space before a single drawing is made
This is the non-AI in you — the part that’s deeply human, intuitive, sometimes messy but always irreplaceable. And this part? It can’t be outsourced. It shouldn’t be.
Teaching AI is a noble expectation — but for most, it’s not where the leverage really is. The real leverage is in knowing yourself:
Where can you delegate to machines, and where must you double down on being human?
As we step into a future where tools are smarter, the most critical skill might be self-awareness. Not "What can AI do?" but rather:
"What do I still need to do, with my own voice, judgment, and presence?"
Curious how AI can fit into your creative or strategic workflow?
I help AEC professionals navigate this shift.
👉 Book a discovery call — let’s talk.
🎙️ First interview drops next week — stay tuned.
Here are the most relevant tech news highlights from the past week:
AEC Market Growing at 10.7% CAGR | Reach USD 15,842 Billion by 2028 Globally Allied Market Research projects the AEC market to expand significantly, driven by technological adoption and integrated project delivery.
Credo Bets Big on AEC Business: Will It Deliver Sustainable Growth? With increased data center demands, Credo's AEC segment is expected to deliver sustainable growth through its extensive AI applications.
Construction Firms Embracing Tech Gain Competitive Edge in Bids, Revenue, and Talent A significant number of firms are integrating AI and other tech to stay competitive, improve bids, and attract talent.
Unlocking Project Potential: Why Access to Granular Data Is the Foundation for Better AECO Outcomes Enhanced data accessibility is driving improved workflows and project outcomes within the AEC industry.
KINDAutomatic to Liberate Data from Revit A new tool enables easier and more efficient data extraction from Revit, facilitating better BIM workflows.
Motif Introduces 'Single Click' AI Rendering This new technology simplifies and customizes the rendering process for AEC collaboration.
Eagleview and SkyWatch Announce Alliance to Expand Access to Ultra High-Resolution Aerial Imagery Their collaboration aims to deliver actionable remote sensing data across various sectors, including AEC.
Building Inclusive Climate Resilience with Human-Centered Design in Government Explores how local governments can integrate HCD with climate resilience strategies for better civic technology solutions.
In the Age of AI, We Need a Human-Centered Society More Than Ever Discusses the urgent need for human-centered approaches in the design of AI tools to foster societal well-being.
Smart Facades: Integrating Technology into Building Skins Introduces innovations in smart building skins that integrate technology to improve performance and maintenance.
Artificial Intelligence as a Feedback Teammate for Treatment Delivery Discusses the role of AI in healthcare, enhancing treatment delivery through user-centered design.
Smart-Home Innovation for Older Adults' Mental Health Proposes a conceptual framework linking human-centered design and smart homes to aid early detection of health issues.
Until next time,
Shicong Cao, DataDrivenAEC
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