SDA/OC AEC Industry Appreciation Breakfast and AI Seminar

AI Unplugged: Cool Demos, Real Business Impacts, and the Path Forward – SDA Industry Appreciation

AI is reshaping the design process, but not always in the ways you expect. In this session, you’ll see powerful demos alongside candid discussions of limitations, risks, and business impacts. Walk away with a clear understanding of where AI fits today—and how to prepare your team for what’s coming next.

High Level Overview

1. Current AI Environment

·    Overview of available AI tools: design generation, documentation, analysis

·    The gap between tool availability and actual implementation

·    Most firms still experimenting vs. truly integrating

·    Models, agents, and emerging workflows in architecture

2. Cool Demos

Image generation (Google vs ChatGPT vs Custom)

Video Generation (Google)

AI Demo (Showing some of the flaws of current architecture AI)

Cool AI technology Demo Auto Voice translation

3. Business Impact & IP Considerations

·    Real impacts on the design process and business models

·    The value shift: from “changes cost time and money” to “rapid iteration is possible”

·    IP rights, ownership, and professional liability questions

·    Developing policies while maintaining client trust

4. The Human Factor

·    Success depends on genuine curiosity, not forced adoption

·    Mental shift required: from production to curation and strategy

·    Team dynamics and change management often harder than technical learning

·    Leadership engagement critical for transformation

5. Practical Path Forward

·    Start small, measure results, scale gradually

·    Investment in learning time essential (not plug-and-play)

·    Balance innovation with maintaining quality standards

·    Build competitive advantage through thoughtful integration

6. Q&A

PRESENTER:

Conner Schnicker is a custom AI development specialist with two years of experience creating practical AI solutions across multiple industries. From fine-tuning image generation models for architectural applications to building AI-powered project management platforms, Conner has developed over a dozen custom systems that transform traditional business workflows. His portfolio includes ERP implementations, automated voice translation systems, construction estimation tools, and interactive mapping applications. Having worked directly with architecture firms, construction companies, and various service industries, Conner brings a real-world perspective to AI implementation—understanding both its transformative potential and the sustained effort required for meaningful business integration.