I think the improvements and increased acceptance of prefabricated construction and machine learning can make for an intriguing combination. I am by no means a construction specialist, but if you distill ML to new innovation from historical data sets, architecture certainly has untapped potential.
Just imagine being able to input a geolocation and automatically receiving insight about construction that optimizes for usable space, energy efficiency, or even the prospective homeowner's lifestyle (an AI that recommends different layout options for a family of 5, lifelong bachelor, and non-family roommates on identical quarter-acre plots)
On a slightly more disruptive angle, imagine an AI that could understand a municipality's building code and optimize the space while complying with the literal requirements. Your town has banned finished attics without two methods of egress? Here is an ideal renovation that will provide that necessary balcony while maintaining budget (and here are 4 other buildings in the town that were approved with the same design).
if the genetic algorithm was built such that it used simulated traditional building materials and assembly techniques then sure.
otherwise most genetic algorithms essentially boil down to calculating local minima and maxima of stresses and strains, and optimizes accordingly. The resulting geometry is generally fine for a manufacturing technique such as 3d printing.
Otherwise, despite the material efficiency the labor involved might explode exponentially.
I'm pretty sure I've seen urban planning software that use building codes / parametric parameters to to do this. But architecture / construction has poor history of adopting leading edge tech (constructionphysics.substack.com has great dives into history).
One thing i'm excited for is AI generating ornamentation combined with additive/subtractive manufacturing and we might finally get relatively budget revival of a bunch of more craft based aethetics. Even though we can (relatively) cheaply create detailed geometry now, it's still cost prohibitive to design said details.
Just imagine being able to input a geolocation and automatically receiving insight about construction that optimizes for usable space, energy efficiency, or even the prospective homeowner's lifestyle (an AI that recommends different layout options for a family of 5, lifelong bachelor, and non-family roommates on identical quarter-acre plots)
On a slightly more disruptive angle, imagine an AI that could understand a municipality's building code and optimize the space while complying with the literal requirements. Your town has banned finished attics without two methods of egress? Here is an ideal renovation that will provide that necessary balcony while maintaining budget (and here are 4 other buildings in the town that were approved with the same design).