The Department of Architecture at North South University (NSU) organized a panel discussion titled “Architecture: In the Era of Advanced Technology 1.0” on 28 February 2026, bringing together academics, researchers, and industry professionals to critically examine the future of architecture in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, a press release said.
The panel included Prof. Dr. Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman, Assoc. Prof. Shahriar Iqbal Raj, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafin Rahman, Dr. Golam Mohammad Mohiuddin, Lecturer A K M Saleh Ahmed Anik, and was moderated by Prof. Mujtaba Ahsan, Department of Architecture, NSU.
The discussion opened with the guiding question posed by Prof. Mujtaba Ahsan:“How is architecture going to embrace AI in the near future?”
Responding to this, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman emphasized the importance of traditional architectural thinking and human sensitivity. He questioned the definition of architecture in an AI-driven era, asking: “What is architecture? Is it design, or is it technology?” Referring to Vitruvius, he revisited the three foundational pillars of architecture—Utilitas (purpose), Firmitas (strength and structure), and Venustas (beauty and aesthetics)—and explained that while purpose and structure are largely objective, aesthetics remain subjective and culturally driven. He stressed that architecture is not merely lines and rooms, but the creation of space, enclosure, and experience, shaped by cultural contexts. While acknowledging the inevitability of technology, he argued that AI cannot fully replicate the sensitivity, depth, and feeling developed through manual drawing and human perception.
Offering a contrasting perspective, Lecturer A K M Saleh Ahmed Anik highlighted the transformative role of technology and adaptability. He discussed how human cognition has always evolved alongside tools and referenced predictions by Ray Kurzweil regarding AI, AGI, and ASI. He described the transition toward “Homo Cybernetics”, where devices act as extensions of human senses. He emphasized that learning systems must evolve from rigid, IQ-based models to lifelong, adaptive learning frameworks, supported by Emotional Intelligence (EI). He also drew attention to environmental and ethical concerns, noting that AI development demands vast energy resources, making human judgment, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence more critical than ever.
Dr. Golam Mohammad Mohiuddin presented a case study demonstrating how an AI-generated architectural animation was produced within 24 hours using limited project data. While acknowledging the efficiency of AI, he cautioned about the future scarcity of jobs and emphasized that architects must act as curators of AI rather than its slaves. He questioned whether AI-generated outputs can be considered architecture if they are not ultimately built.
Clarifying the technical foundations of AI, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafin Rahman explained the distinction between Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), noting that most current AI systems fall under ANI. He discussed AI’s developmental levels and warned that unchecked progress toward Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) could cross ethical boundaries. He emphasized the need for localized AI models and interdisciplinary collaboration, referencing NSU’s Machine Intelligence Lab.
Assoc. Prof. Shahriar Iqbal Raj, Chair of the Department of Architecture at NSU, reflected on the evolution from sub-digital to advanced architecture and stressed the necessity of collaboration between architects and programmers. He proposed introducing a new academic course titled “Prompt Engineering” and emphasized that learning has no age limit. He concluded by stating that while old knowledge is replaced by new, every stage of learning remains valuable in shaping the future of architectural practice.
Concluding the session, Prof. Mujtaba Ahsan remarked that in today’s reality, learning new things has become a new job, reinforcing the shared understanding that adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning are essential in the era of advanced technology.
