A Practical, Purposeful, and Private Approach to AI Adoption in AEC

Artificial intelligence is transforming architecture, engineering, and construction—but are firms prepared for the risks that come with the rewards? During a recent presentation at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design—the industry's largest gathering of architecture professionals—Aaron Vorwerk, Architecture Practice Leader at Egnyte and Niknaz Aftahi, CEO & Founder of aec+tech, talked about one of the most critical challenges facing our industry today: how to responsibly use AI without compromising security or effectiveness. 

The presentation opened with Mickey McManus's compelling observation from a prior talk that “we're entering the jazz age of AI.” Just as jazz revolutionized music through improvisation and creative expression, AI is opening new possibilities across every phase of AEC projects. As Niknaz noted later in the session, "We're seeing AI transform how we approach planning, design development, and even field operations, but like jazz, success comes from understanding both the fundamentals and when to improvise."

Aaron emphasized that the foundation for any successful AI strategy should be put in place long before leveraging AI tools. “AI without a solid data infrastructure is like building on sand,” he warned the audience. With cloud data in the AEC industry experiencing exponential growth over recent years, firms are sitting on unprecedented volumes of information; unfortunately, much of it remains unstructured, redundant, or potentially compromised.

According to recent industry research, 59% of AEC firms have experienced cyberattacks in the past 2 years alone, and construction firms face an average of 226 security incidents annually. And a full 44% of these breaches involved ransomware, highlighting critical vulnerabilities that could be catastrophic when combined with AI's data-hungry nature.

The centerpiece of the presentation was the "3Ps framework"—a methodology Vorwerk explained to help firms assess AI initiatives across three critical dimensions: Practical, Purposeful, and Private. This framework was developed to serve as the guiding principles for Egnyte’s AI product development, and the presenters felt that the same approach could be applied by AEC firms looking to evaluate AI tools prior to implementation within their practices.

"Is this tool actually practical for our workflows?" Aaron asked the audience. "Does it serve a clear purpose with our existing data? And can we implement it without compromising our clients' privacy or our intellectual property?" These three questions form the backbone of responsible AI evaluation.

The speakers demonstrated how the 3Ps framework applies across common AEC use cases. In planning and programming, Vorwerk noted that AI tools generating layout designs are only as good as the historical project data feeding them. "We've seen firms excited about generative design tools that produce beautiful layouts," he explained, "but if your underlying project data is incomplete or poorly structured, you're unlikely to achieve a desired or accurate result."

For design ideation, Niknaz highlighted how the challenges become even more nuanced. While AI can produce compelling visualizations and conceptual designs, firms must be cautious of tools that might inadvertently expose proprietary design methodologies or client-specific requirements. "Some AI platforms require uploading your design files to external servers," she cautioned. "That might seem practical in the moment, but it fails the privacy test completely."

The documentation phase presents its own considerations. Poorly structured BIM data can lead to significant errors when processed through AI systems, creating cascading problems throughout construction documentation. As Vorwerk pointed out to the audience, "Garbage in, garbage out isn't just a saying—it's a prediction of project failure when AI amplifies bad data."

Referring to a presentation by Amy Beckenham, the speakers shared the importance of data literacy as a foundational skill for AI success. Amy had defined data literacy in AEC as "the ability to read, understand, create, and communicate data as meaningful information." And firms excelling at data literacy don't just make better AI decisions—they preserve institutional knowledge, streamline critical project decisions, and gain substantial competitive advantages.

"Data literacy isn't just about understanding spreadsheets," Aaron explained. "It's about recognizing how your project data connects to design decisions, how historical performance can inform future strategies, and how to structure information so that both humans and AI can make sense of it."

The discussion also addressed the evolving regulatory landscape. With new privacy regulations and professional liability considerations emerging around AI use, firms need to establish clear policies before deployment. Vorwerk shared examples of firms that have successfully developed AI governance frameworks aligned with their existing risk management and quality assurance processes.

Throughout the presentation, the speakers emphasized that successful AI adoption isn't about finding the most advanced tools—it's about matching the right solutions to specific firm needs and workflows. The presentation outlined a practical roadmap that attendees could implement immediately:

• Evaluate Current Data Infrastructure: Conduct an audit of existing data quality, structure, and security protocols before considering AI tools
• Choose Strategic Pilot Use Cases: Apply the 3Ps framework to identify low-risk, high-value opportunities for initial AI implementation
• Establish AI Governance Policies: Develop clear guidelines that align with company values, legal requirements, and ethical standards for responsible AI use

Vorwerk concluded the presentation with an AI-generated slide that provided an important caution: "Don't let AI hype outrun your readiness." The speakers emphasized that firms rushing to implement AI without addressing foundational data management and security concerns are setting themselves up for significant risks. "The firms that will succeed with AI are those that approach it methodically—building strong data foundations, choosing tools purposefully, and maintaining strict privacy standards."

Niknaz reinforced this message by noting that the industry's complex project requirements and regulatory environment demand a more thoughtful approach than other sectors. "We're not just building software—we're building environments where people live, work, and gather," she told the audience. "That responsibility extends to how we implement AI in our design and construction processes."

The presentation provided three key takeaways for conference attendees:

• Foundation first, innovation second: Even the most sophisticated AI may generate hallucinations without clean, structured, secure input data. Firms must establish robust data management and security protocols before implementing AI tools.
• The 3Ps framework is universally applicable: Every firm, regardless of size, can benefit from evaluating AI tools through the Practical, Purposeful, and Private lens. Tools that fail any of these tests may create more risk than value.
• Data literacy drives competitive advantage: The firms investing in data literacy across their teams are making better AI decisions and extracting more value from their technology investments.

The conversations with attendees at this major industry conference reinforced that responsible AI adoption in our industry requires balancing innovation with security, efficiency with ethics, and technological capability with practical implementation. The thoughtful questions and engaged discussion showed that architects are ready to embrace AI—they just want to do it right.

As the industry continues to navigate this "jazz age of AI," the firms that will thrive are those that approach these powerful tools with the same rigor and responsibility they bring to designing the built environment.

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About the Presenters

Aaron Vorwerk is the Architecture Practice Leader at Egnyte, bringing extensive expertise in digital strategy and data management for AEC firms. He specializes in helping architecture practices navigate the intersection of technology, security, and workflow optimization.

Niknaz Aftahi is the CEO & Founder of aec+tech, dedicated to fostering responsible technology-driven innovation in the built environment. She regularly speaks on emerging technologies and their practical applications in architecture, engineering, and construction.