On imitation and Style (Transfer). Discussions on the Revivalism Permeating AI Technologies

Author: Valerio Perna
Affiliation: POLIS University

The surge in the proliferation of AI-generated images within the past three years has significantly disrupted the established norms of architectural production. Whether manifested in text-to-image, image-to-image, or text-to-video systems, the pervasive influence of generative AI has introduced novel considerations into ongoing discussions within global architectural communities. These discussions scrutinize the rightful application or potential misuse of generative AI in academic research and professional contexts, prompting a reevaluation of its legitimacy. Despite the ongoing debate, there is a persistent and growing interest in these artificial intelligence tools that should focus not only on the legitimacy of their use but also on the appropriate ability to evaluate this production and establish some rules so that they can be analyzed and discussed. As an individual actively engaged in teaching architectural design, the enormous volume of images produced by students using artificial intelligence stimulates deep reflections. Indeed, these reflections extend beyond the simple methodologies of their use to a fundamental reexamination of the imperative to establish relevant criteria for their evaluation. [...]