Speaking of Artificial Intelligence, let's start by considering the construction industry, understood as companies that build: «The construction sector in general is traditionalist and necessarily tied to materiality, given that roads and houses cannot be built virtually. Furthermore, as regards the Ticino, this field is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises that do not always have figures within them specifically dedicated to innovation", he explains Alex Farinelli of SSIC-TI"In my opinion, before considering AI in construction, it needs to be incorporated upstream, into the design studios." He doesn't envision artificial intelligence in the construction sector in the coming years, although it could more likely provide administrative support and help with the organization and management of construction sites.
The gauntlet has been thrown down, then. How do design studios and architects approach the issue? Lidor Gilad, an architect for Itten+Brechbühl and a teacher-researcher at the Academy of Architecture, who thus offers an interesting perspective, the professional sphere is more cautious than the academic one. "Architecture and construction, where products must be solid and durable, are sectors that often lag behind in innovation. I believe this may be due to the fact that, while in industry a product can be replicated infinitely, in our case a project can be defined as a one-of-a-kind prototype." On the other hand, however, with AI "for the first time in history we have a tool capable of providing us with feedback on what we're doing much faster than current simulations, for example on factors like a project's sustainability, natural lighting, or exposure to wind. Part of our work, which has become increasingly complex over the years and requires us to also deal with construction details, is bringing an idea to fruition, and here artificial intelligence can support us." The goal, however, is not to reduce costs, but to "optimize them and increase quality." Furthermore, he recognizes that every client would like to know precisely how much it will cost them to maintain a building in the years to come, costs that can be optimized through the initial simulations mentioned above. Over the next three to five years, he envisions a greater implementation of "tools that can provide us with input, the validity of which, however, will always need to be assessed." In short, the architect remains central, also because "currently there are applications that generate images but are unable to transform them into an architectural project."
A more precise analysis of costs and revenues, starting with estimates that include sales in the area and the investments required for maintenance, could be extremely important for those looking to invest in real estate. He is convinced of this. Enzo Lucibello, who also envisions using AI to improve the customer experience in real estate. "There's a lot to be done in sales and rentals, because it could allow prospective tenants to find the right space quickly and more efficiently. Currently, the main factors in choosing a property are price, location, and number of rooms. By answering questions in a chatbox, a more precise user profile could be created, allowing them to see the options closest to their tastes based on factors such as traffic concentration, noise level, and proximity to amenities like schools. This would save time during viewings." But at this point, what could the role of real estate agents be? As already mentioned for the hotel industry, the irreplaceable human element would once again make the difference. "I think it's also helpful for them, as they're faced with a more determined client. Today, renters focus on administrative work; AI encourages them to go the extra mile."
It's true that AI could increase clients' autonomy in finding solutions. However, the role of the real estate professional remains crucial: offering expert, personalized advice that goes beyond AI-analyzed data, providing strategic support for complex decisions like investments or renovations, and strengthening the relational component, which is a key element for success in the real estate sector. The evolution of the profession will therefore be to integrate Artificial Intelligence as a tool, while maintaining the human factor as an added value. Nicolas Daldini, president of SVIT, who speaks of "adoption still in its initial phase".
Agree Andrea Cossutti Immo-rail, a company that builds and manages its own properties, says: "Human relationships remain the key. "We're not currently using AI, although we're curious and open to new possibilities. We believe that, although its role is set to grow by providing increasingly precise and specific data and guidance, it still can't replace the human factor, which is a fundamental value in all our work. Local experience and relationships continue to be of great value to us, giving meaning to what we do. That said, it will be possible to implement some tools in the near future to assist us in our tasks," he explains. For years, the company has stood out for its highly personalized approach to each tenant and its decision to invest in Minergie-P-certified buildings, with a focus on technology, energy efficiency, and home automation, "to make our tenants' stays as comfortable and smart as possible." In the future, Cossutti believes that "it will be useful to further increase the use of home automation, for example by developing a single application that integrates all apartment systems and equipment, from lighting and room temperature management to charging stations." AI, therefore, can be used for increasingly intelligent and efficient management.
For Daldini, tasks that can be delegated to AI include "identifying trends and forecasting real estate price developments, enabling more informed decisions" and "optimizing management processes. Intelligent systems help schedule appointments, filter requests, and manage real estate portfolios more efficiently, as well as those related to automated chatboxes for announcements, newsletters, and other communications." Lucibello adds that he sees promising prospects in automating various property management tasks.
In summary, the potential is there, but our canton appears to be lacking in its implementation. What study opportunities are available? "For us at SSIC, it's not a priority," Farinelli specifies, according to whom innovation must first pass through digitalization, which is not yet fully achieved in construction companies. "SVIT Ticino is planning courses and workshops on artificial intelligence, partly in response to growing demand from its members. In 2025, a working group dedicated to digitalization will be launched, which will also include AI. This group will define how to integrate AI into business processes and how to train professionals to best use it," adds Daldini.
In the university context, Gilad emphasizes, the Academy of Architecture recently organized the Future of Construction symposium, which fascinated him. "The Academy is making important steps by approaching the topic from a humanistic perspective, for example, by trying to understand how we can improve efficiency, how we can rediscover and reintroduce earth or wood as working materials. We're considering how to integrate artificial intelligence into the academic curriculum," both by introducing it into existing courses and through ad hoc programs. "We always maintain a critical eye, because we don't want to replace our role with a machine. It's important to note that young people are already very familiar with these tools."
Andrea Bellomo of New Trends, which focuses on real estate marketing, summarizes that "on a textual level, AI applied to real estate is already a widely used tool, while on a visual level there is still much work to be done, at least for non-expert users." Although he believes we are at the beginning of a revolution, he emphasizes a fundamental concept: AI cannot and should not replace the creativity, judgment, and ethical sense that can only come from human experience. "They are very valid tools for saving time when searching and selecting information, but this must always be validated by people. The CRMs used by real estate agents, for example, allow them to produce descriptive texts for properties based on prompts and keywords, but they must be checked." He then notes how there is a delay in adopting these new technologies: "The real estate sector's target audience is more conservative than others, not being made up of young people, primarily for economic reasons, who are instead the most knowledgeable about AI." He therefore highlights a "gap" between existing technology and its adoption.
While AI can't and shouldn't replace creativity at the moment, it can be a great support for architecture. Huber has no doubts: "It's becoming a vital companion, and its applications are numerous. The first is assistance with repetitive, routine tasks, but soon we'll receive significant support in other areas that until now we thought were the preserve of our minds, such as developing mathematical formulas: simply express a concept and AI transforms it into a working formula, or as a 'virtual colleague' to consult in case of doubt, or simply in drafting minutes. It will greatly facilitate the work of those who understand its scope. But I ask myself, and I ask you: How will we regulate the development of AI in the future? Who will deal with the ethical issues we'll soon be faced with. And finally, how will we introduce a red button that can stop AI if we lose control?"
