| Title |
Architectural Authorship Reconsidered in the Age of Artificial Intelligence |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.5.181 |
| Keywords |
Artificial Intelligence; Architectural Authorship; Architectural Ethics; Human?AI Collaboration; Copyrightability; Intellectual Property; Plagiarism |
| Abstract |
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into architectural practice is reshaping not only design workflows but also fundamental
notions of authorship, creativity, and responsibility. While existing studies have primarily focused on AI's technical capabilities and efficiency
gains, its philosophical and institutional implications remain underexplored. This study examines how AI reconfigures architectural authorship
by analyzing its role across the entire design process, from conceptual development to post-occupancy evaluation. Based on a systematic
mapping of AI applications to the RIBA Plan of Work, this research conceptualizes AI as an active mediating agent rather than a neutral
tool and organizes its functions using a category-based taxonomy with stage-wise utilization intensity. The findings show that architectural
authorship is increasingly distributed among human designers, algorithms, datasets, and institutional frameworks. As a result, authorship cannot
be reduced to a single creative subject but should be understood as a process-based and relational construct. The study also examines four
key issues related to AI-generated architectural work: artistic value, copyright eligibility, authorship attribution, and rights protection. A
comparative review of legal and professional frameworks across major jurisdictions and professional bodies indicates that, despite the growing
autonomy of AI systems, responsibility and legal accountability remain anchored to human actors. However, this accountability should extend
beyond simple signature authority. To address this shift, the concept of narrative authorship is proposed, emphasizing transparency,
decision-making, and interpretive justification as central to architectural creativity in the AI era. The study concludes that AI does not
diminish authorship but transforms it, requiring evaluative criteria grounded in responsibility, process, and ethical accountability. |