Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence

Introduction

Through the lens of the general public, artificial intelligence (AI) went mainstream when AI research company OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022. When generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) models were incorporated into ChatGPT, AI was instantly thrust into the global spotlight.

In 2023, the developments multiplied: Anthropic’s generative AI, Claude, increased its text processing capabilities by 1,011% in the span of two months; ChatGPT passed the bar exam; Google introduced generative AI for internet searches; Spotify debuted a personalized AI-driven DJ, and MidJourney brought generative AI images to the masses.

Away from the gloss of pop culture, however, AI development for applications that connect digital design and delivery of projects, or design and make, has been progressing for over a decade, a constant evolution of technology that began with training neural networks to recognize imagery.

“This was the start of the third wave,” says Mike Haley, SVP of research at Autodesk. “And it’s what cemented AI as something that will be in our lives forever.”

Business leaders and experts agree with Haley’s assessment—66% of respondents to Autodesk’s 2024 State of Design & Make survey say AI will be essential for their businesses in the next two to three years.

The response to Autodesk’s AI-powered tools also speaks to the speed of adoption of this new technology across the architecture, engineering, design and operations (AECO), design and manufacturing (D&M), and media and entertainment (M&E) industries. For Autodesk’s cross-industry generative design- and AI-enabled products, user engagement increased by 24% from January 2023 to November 2023 (though this does not take overall subscriber growth into account). 

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