Darren Cartlidge, Principal at Hassell, and event sponsor, set the stage by underscoring the topic's critical nature: “It’s the future for everybody whether we like it or not, so it’s an important topic.” This sentiment framed an evening of deep exploration into how AI is reshaping practice, from the individual architect to the entire industry.
Meet the pioneers: AAL INNOVATION and its founders
The event, moderated by RIBA Hong Kong Committee Member, Dr, Ar, Adrian Lo, featured a distinguished panel, headlined by the founders of AAL INNOVATION (AAL), the first AI startup in Hong Kong dedicated to the AEC sector and joined online by our international panellist Adrian Malleson, Head of Economic Research and Analysis at RIBA.
Adeline Chan, CEO and Co-founder, is a licensed RIBA architect and entrepreneur who combines deep industry expertise with a forward-thinking vision for innovation. Her experience running a design consultancy and working on government projects grounds her understanding of practical industry pain points. She is also on this year’s UABB (Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale) curatorial team.
Annie Zhang, CTO and Co-founder, licensed HKIA architect, brings a unique hybrid skillset with eight years of architectural experience and a master’s in computer science. As a thought leader in AI adoption, she focuses on empowering enterprises to integrate cutting-edge technology.
Their company, AAL, was born from a profound "professional earthquake," as Adeline described it—a moment of realization that AI would fundamentally alter the design and delivery process. Their mission is to bridge the gap between deep domain expertise and technological innovation through tailored AI training, strategic workflow integration, and tool selection, serving clients from Hong Kong to the Middle East.
Audience insights: polling the pulse of the profession
Interactive polls revealed the audience's engagement level and priorities:
AI usage in practice: 41% of participants reported using AI daily—a figure that mirrors the 2024 RIBA UK report, signalling rapid global normalisation.
Company investment in upskilling: responses varied widely, indicating that while some firms are proactive, many are still formulating a strategy, highlighting a significant readiness gap.
Personal training interests: attendees prioritised AI for project management (e.g., automating contract documents, CAD data retrieval) over image generation, underscoring a demand for practical, efficiency-driving tools.
A central theme: the three-tiered impact of AI
A core framework presented was AI's impact at three distinct levels:
The individual architect: AI empowers architects to become “super architects,” amplifying their capabilities and competitiveness. As Adeline Chan stated, “With AI, you can think about what you can do as an individual, just as much as what you can do as a team… you basically become a super architect.” This demands new skills in metacognition (thinking about one's own thinking) and translating tacit design knowledge into effective prompts.
The architectural practice: firms are restructuring. The model is shifting: a director and an architectural assistant augmented by AI can achieve output that previously required a larger team. This necessitates retraining and creates new hybrid roles like ‘computational designer’ and ‘prompt engineer.’ Critically, AI must be integrated with BIM, which provides the structured data that AI tools need to be effective.
The AEC industry: the sector is seeing a rise in demand for AI consultants and a move towards more modularised, streamlined processes. However, this also brings concerns. Referencing the RIBA AI report, Adrian Malleson noted that adoption among UK architects rose to 59% in 2025 from 41% in 2024, with “imitation risk and knowledge erosion cited as major concerns.” There is also a trend of clients bringing more AI-replaceable services in-house for greater control.
Insights from the RIBA AI report
Adrian Malleson provided crucial data-driven context. He highlighted the profession's optimism regarding AI's potential for sustainability, noting, “Architects overall are very positive about the ability of AI to help with meeting net zero targets and creating buildings that meet energy performance requirements.” The reports also emphasise the pressing need for robust ethical standards, data security protocols, and critical thinking as AI becomes embedded in practice.
The event moved beyond theory with live demonstrations. AAL team showcased AI-driven floor plan generation, illustrating how tools can rapidly iterate thousands of layout options based on set parameters (e.g., egress distances, unit mixes), slashing a process that traditionally took days down to hours. Anne demonstrated powerful AI-BIM integrations, including an AI agent that can write Dynamo scripts and a dashboard that visualises clash detection data through simple conversational prompts.
A key takeaway was the sheer volume of tools available. With over 1,600+ AEC-specific AI tools on the market, the challenge is no longer a lack of technology but curating the right “Subway sandwich” of tools for a specific task and ensuring they work cohesively within a BIM-driven workflow.
Panel discussion and question and answer session: navigating risks and the road ahead
The panel discussion, chaired by Dr. Adrian Lo, featuring Adeline, Annie, and Adrian Malleson, delved into the critical challenges and future outlook.
The required mindset: the panel agreed that the architect’s role is evolving from hands-on drafter to a director of AI systems, requiring an entrepreneurial and strategic mindset.
Ethical and practical risks: the discussion highlighted significant risks, including copyright ambiguity, data privacy, and the potential for AI to “hallucinate” inaccurate information. Adrian Malleson advised, “It's like any tool... the tool user has the responsibility for the output,” urging architects to read the fine print on AI services and ensure their professional indemnity insurance is equipped for AI use.
The future of compliance: in response to a question from Darren of Hassell, Adeline clarified the state of AI in compliance checking: “So far, AI is not able to check the drawings themselves. They will be able to do so very soon… At this moment, we're being consulted on how the client can utilize AI to automate laborious processes and increase competitive edge.” This is a rapidly developing area that will soon impact how both clients and consultants verify work.
Sustainability double-edged sword: questions from online attendees addressed AI's own environmental cost (energy/water use). The panel acknowledged this is a complex issue, balancing AI's operational energy use against its potential to optimise building performance and construction efficiency at a scale that could net a positive environmental impact.
The importance of the topic and a phased way forward
AI is not a distant future; it is actively reshaping the industry, offering unprecedented gains in efficiency, creativity, and sustainability. However, it introduces ethical, legal, and operational risks that require proactive management.
AAL outlined a pragmatic, phased approach for firms looking to integrate AI responsibly:
- Implementation plan: develop a high-level AI strategy tailored to specific practice workflows and goals.
- Training plan: design targeted training programs to equip staff with the necessary prompt engineering and tool-specific skills.
- Training and subscription: provide ongoing access to training, support, and curated tool updates.
- Maintenance and review: schedule regular reviews (e.g., quarterly) to evaluate effectiveness, address new challenges, and adapt to technological advancements.
Looking ahead
The event closed with a sense of cautious optimism. AAL is committed to its mission of bridging AI and AEC, starting in APAC and expanding globally. As the technology evolves, the focus will be on ensuring architects are not merely users but shapers of technology.
The right approach, as Adeline noted, creates new opportunities:
“The right kind of tools means new job titles. It’s going to take some time, but… if we hop onto the Gen-AI market, we will do quite well as an industry.”
The future belongs to those who can harness AI to enhance their deep domain expertise, serving society and the built environment for the better.
About AAL INNOVATION
AAL INNOVATION is a pioneering force in the digital transformation of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector in Hong Kong. Founded with the mission to bridge the gap between traditional industry practices and the power of artificial intelligence, the company provides the tools, training, and strategic workflows needed to build a smarter future.
As the first AI company in Hong Kong dedicated to the AEC industry, with support from Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU), AAL INNOVATION is at the forefront of this technological shift.
Their mission
AAL INNOVATION aims to empower architects, engineers, and construction professionals by integrating advanced AI technologies. The company enables dynamic, efficient design and construction processes that overcome persistent industry challenges, enhance creative potential, and redefine what is architecturally possible.
Their services
- AI training and education: customised workshops and programs led by professional AI trainers.
- AI workflow integration: designing and implementing studied workflows that streamline operations from concept to completion.
- Custom AI tool development: building practical software solutions tailored to the unique needs of the AEC industry.
- Strategic consulting: advising industry leaders on adopting AI to foster a culture of innovation and forward-thinking.
Following a successful expansion into the UAE in Q2 2025, AAL INNOVATION now serves a prestigious portfolio of clients across the Middle East and Hong Kong, including major real estate developers, oil and gas corporations, government bodies, and global consultancies.
