By: Josh Curvey | Design Technology Administrator
Before attending Autodesk University, I assumed some of the conversation around AI in architecture was moving faster than the technology itself. After seeing how AI-assisted tools are beginning to interact with Revit and other design platforms, I left with a different perspective.
Autodesk University is Autodesk’s annual Design & Make Conference, bringing together professionals across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and related industries. The event includes keynotes, technical demonstrations, industry discussions, and practical learning sessions.
This was my first time attending AU and my first conference of this scale. It was inspiring, thought-provoking, and occasionally overwhelming. After settling into the pace of the event, I found myself moving between highly technical presentations and sessions that addressed the everyday challenges architecture firms face.
Josh Curvey, Design Technology Administrator at CDA attends Autodesk University 2026
Practical Lessons Alongside Big Ideas
Some of the most valuable sessions were not necessarily the most futuristic. They focused on techniques, workflows, and ways of thinking that could be applied to our work at Chipman Design Architecture almost immediately.
Other sessions were more technical than I expected, or simply too far outside my role to be useful. That was part of the experience too. A conference this large requires you to determine which ideas have practical value for your firm and which ones are better left for another time.
Across both the practical and highly technical sessions, one subject appeared repeatedly: artificial intelligence.
The most compelling demonstrations went beyond using a large language model to answer a question or summarize information. They showed how AI assistants can connect with design tools and model data, allowing users to communicate in plain language and, within defined permissions, initiate actions inside a Revit environment.
What Does AI in Revit Mean for Architects?
AI-assisted Revit workflows may help architects and designers retrieve information, manage model data, and reduce repetitive work. However, any output or model change still requires professional review before it becomes part of a project’s documentation.
That distinction matters. AI-generated responses and actions can be incomplete, inaccurate, or based on missing context. An architect or designer must still determine whether a proposed change is appropriate, verify the result, and authorize its use.
The responsibility for the construction documents does not shift to the technology. It remains with the professionals and firms producing them.
How CDA Will Evaluate AI Tools
CDA is not preparing to hand over its Revit models to an AI agent without oversight. We are paying attention to how quickly these tools are developing and where they might provide practical value.
Before implementing a new tool, we need to understand several things:
Does it improve the quality or consistency of our work?
Can its actions be reviewed and verified?
Does it protect project and client information?
Does it fit within our quality-control process?
Does it help our architects and designers spend more time on work that requires judgment, experience, and creativity?
The right starting point may be a limited, lower-risk workflow rather than a major change to how an entire project is produced. Any implementation should be deliberate, measurable, and appropriate for the people using it.
Keeping People at the Center
The most important takeaway from Autodesk University was not that AI will replace the architect or interior designer. It was that the relationship between people and their design tools is changing.
For CDA, the goal is not to use AI simply because it is available. The goal is to determine where technology can support better coordination, stronger documentation, more informed decisions, and better service for our clients.
Autodesk University gave us a clearer view of what is possible today and what may be approaching quickly. The details will continue to change, but our responsibility will not: people must remain accountable for the decisions that shape the built environment.
Josh Curvey is CDA’s Design Technology Administrator and brings more than a decade of experience in the AEC industry, with a focus on hospitality and retail projects. He leads the development and implementation of BIM standards that help project teams work more efficiently while maintaining accuracy and consistency across all phases of design and documentation. Leveraging the full capabilities of Revit, Josh supports coordination, problem-solving, and quality control while training teams on best practices and emerging technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is passionate about helping CDA teams deliver thoughtful, well-executed design solutions.
