{"id":1004789945,"date":"2026-03-19T08:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004789945"},"modified":"2026-04-14T03:39:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T11:39:50","slug":"ais-creating-new-risks-for-owners-heres-how-to-protect-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/ais-creating-new-risks-for-owners-heres-how-to-protect-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"AI’s Creating New Risks for Owners. Here\u2019s How to Protect Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Alastair MacGregor and Jay Wratten<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Artificial intelligence is dominating the discussion across the fields of architecture, engineering and construction. Seemingly every headline and conference session promises that AI will accelerate delivery, reduce costs and unlock breakthrough performance. But for building owners and developers, the reality is far more complicated and increasingly risky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early warning signs are already here. While AI can add value for experienced teams who know how to carefully craft prompts, validate outputs and translate insights into performance, it gives mediocre teams the ability to produce work that looks reasonable but lacks both style and substance. Owners who don\u2019t sharpen their due diligence now may find themselves regretting high\u2011stakes decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are six ways property owners and managers can avoid costly mistakes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Beware of design \u201cdeepfakes\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are beginning to see a troubling trend: polished, professional\u2011looking design packages and visualizations that are fundamentally unsound. AI is quick to produce drawings, yet can overlook structural realities, nuances of building codes and engineering requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are design \u201cdeepfakes,\u201d output that looks credible but isn’t. Owners reviewing proposals should look beyond the polish. When a document feels slick but generic, or when a firm with limited track record suddenly produces unusually sophisticated visuals, assume AI is doing the heavy lifting and get a second opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t get trapped in the design bubble<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since generative tools learn from what users prefer, they reinforce an echo chamber of similar ideas and aesthetics. AI-dominated planning results in buildings optimized for the average, not a specific owner\u2019s individual needs and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design is a human process. It\u2019s iterative, emotional and often nonlinear. If options feel interchangeable, your consultant may be leaning too heavily on AI rather than driving the creative thinking themselves. To avoid this, ask prospective partners how they prevent AI from narrowing design intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WATCH:<\/strong> Harnessing the Power of AI Webinar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Don\u2019t let speed substitute for thought<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AI\u2019s ability to generate dozens of options in a week sounds impressive, but quantity rarely correlates with quality. The pauses\u2014the time to reflect, debate and reframe\u2014are where real breakthroughs occur. Resist the temptation to equate rapid iteration with innovation. Sometimes, more options simply mean more noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When teams produce 30 concepts in a week, consider what you aren’t getting. Ask about the thinking that went into the option they are recommending and why you should trust it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Ask vendors how they use AI<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most firms now boast that they integrate AI into their process. The critical question is how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for partners that use AI to augment expert judgment, deploying AI as a thinking partner and not a shortcut. Beware the over reliance on AI for documentation and early\u2011stage concept generation, particularly from untrained staffers without sufficient oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Push for specificity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n