On 27th September at the BASIS Vinschgau Venosta in Silandro, Mustapha El Moussaoui, architect, urbanist and researcher at unibz, together with Ingrid Kofler, researcher at the Faculty of Design and Art at unibz, will contribute to the event "Transdisciplinary Perspectives on AI's Impact on Creative and Cultural Industries". This event will bring together experts from different fields to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping cultural and creative industries such as architecture, design and music. In this interview, Mustapha El Moussaoui shares his insights on the aims of the event, the growing influence of AI and the importance of adapting to these rapid technological advances. 

Could you provide an overview of the main goals and themes of this event?

Mustapha El Moussaoui: The organizers of this event are Ingrid Kofler and myself in collaboration with BASIS Vinschgau Venosta. Ingrid approaches it from a sociological perspective, while I come from an architectural background. Our goal was to address the broader landscape of creative industries and the significant changes AI is bringing to them. We envisioned this as an annual symposium, with each iteration focusing on a specific aspect of AI’s impact on the creative and cultural industries. For this year, we started with keynote speakers who specialize in AI across different fields. We have participants from architecture, design, and even a contribution focusing on music. To make the event more practical, we introduced workshops where participants can experience first-hand how AI is affecting these industries.

How does your workshop contribute to that?

In my workshop, I teach participants how to design and architect with the help of AI. We start with something as simple as a sketch, and then AI steps in to transform it into a fully designed house. The process moves from creating a presentation of this house to generating 3D models, which we then take into Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. From there, we can extract detailed plans and precise measurements.

We use open-source AI-based programs where you input your commands. Essentially, you write notes to explain exactly what you want from your sketch, including how you’re encoding and decoding the information. The program then creates the render for you. The goal is to show how tasks that traditionally take months can now be completed in a matter of hours with the help of AI.

What is the main impact of AI on the creative and cultural industries? Are there any particular trends or challenges that stand out to you?

We want to highlight how rapidly things are changing. Processes that used to take weeks or even months can now be done in minutes. However, this doesn’t mean we should fear AI. It’s important to adapt to these changes, as AI is not a threat but a tool. By embracing these tools, we free ourselves to create new things. What we are trying to convey is that while technology is evolving quickly, we aren't necessarily keeping pace with it. If we don’t, we risk being left behind.

So, you’re not concerned that AI will replace humans? You see it more as an opportunity?

Exactly. It’s not AI that’s going to take your job, but rather the person who knows how to use AI that will. AI is a tool, and those who learn to use it will have a competitive advantage.

What could be some of the ethical considerations we need to take into account in this process?

One of the major ethical questions is: Who is truly designing? This is a huge question that hasn’t been fully answered yet. It’s similar to the age-old debate: Is the piano playing the music, or is the pianist? We need to approach these ethical questions from a new perspective. If we don’t, we’ll find ourselves overwhelmed with many unanswered questions.

Is there anything you would like to highlight about the event?

We really want students and professionals in the creative industries to participate, so they can witness how fast things are evolving. For students in particular, they must understand the kind of world they are entering. Engaging with the latest technologies on a daily basis is essential. Otherwise, they’ll graduate only to find themselves unprepared for industries that have already adapted to these new tools.

The event Transdisciplinary Perspectives on AI’s Impact on Creative and Cultural Industries will take place on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 09:30 to 18:00 at BASIS Vinschgau Venosta in Silandro. Entry is free, but registration is required. The event will be held in English, with translations available in German and Italian. For more information and registration details, visit the event website.