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How AI Is Reshaping Architecture – Texas A&M Stories

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Imagine you could describe a five-story apartment building in simple words and instantly see a 3D model you can explore through mixed reality. No difficult software or coding. Just say what you want, and watch it come to life.

At Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, researchers are working on making this future real. Thanks to funding by the National Science Foundation (NSF), they are creating new tools that combine artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and spatial reasoning.

Dr. Wei Yan, a professor and researcher, leads these projects in the Department of Architecture. In July, he began his 20th year at Texas A&M and took on a new role as interim head of the department

Yan’s research team includes doctoral students leading their own projects. Their work has caught the attention of experts across the country. In May, his team earned a Best Paper Award at the 2025 IEEE Conference on Artificial Intelligence

Together, they are building new tools that are changing how architecture is taught and practiced.

Architecture doctoral student Guangxi Feng (left) and master’s in architecture student Travis Halverson (right) test Augmented Reality glasses.

Credit: Texas A&M University College of Architecture

Describe A Building, Then See It Appear

What if you could start designing a building just by typing a sentence?

That’s what Text-to-Visual Programming GPT (Text2VP) does. It’s a new generative AI tool made by doctoral student Guangxi Feng. Yan said that generative AI can already create text, images, videos and even 3D models from text prompts. 

Using OpenAI’s GPT-4.1, Text2VP lets people create a 3D model that they can change right away by describing a building in simple words. 

Users can change the shape, size and layout without writing any code, guided by their architectural knowledge. “This way, the human designers and AI collaborate on the project,” Yan said.

Normally, completing tasks in design software can take hours or days. Text2VP speeds up early design work, so designers can spend more time being creative instead of dealing with technical details.

“This lowers the barrier to entry,” Yan said. “It allows students to experiment and learn design logic more intuitively.” The tool will be tested in mixed reality, where users can walk through and change their 3D models. Yan said immersive spaces help people understand complex spatial concepts faster than using regular computer screens.

Even though it’s still being developed, Yan said it could change the way students and professional designers start their projects. 

His team is also exploring AI’s role in Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is a process for creating digital models of buildings that include both the design and information about the building’s parts. The process is difficult to master, even for professionals, but Yan and doctoral students Jaechang Ko and John Ajibefun are testing how AI could make it easier and more accessible for architects.

A photo of a computer screen with an artificial intelligence chatbot helping to design a multi-story building.

A demonstration shows the AI chatbot in action. The chatbot analyzes a multi-story 3D architectural model and offers real-time feedback.

Credit: Provided photo

Talk To Your Model, Get Instant Feedback

Building on this progress, Yan’s lab is testing how talking to an AI chatbot can help with design. The chatbot lets users interact with their model through conversation and works right in a web browser.

Doctoral student Farshad Askari created a chatbot that lets users “talk” to their 3D building models. After uploading a design, users can ask questions about its structure, layout or how well it works. The chatbot answers with text advice and helpful pictures. It can even compare the models to industry standards or sustainability goals.

The chatbot uses trusted information in a knowledge base and a live view of the uploaded building model with GPT-4o Vision to act like a real-time design assistant.

Soon, it could read detailed building data and work with standard document types like Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), allowing even deeper design checks.

“This kind of dialogue-driven design could one day power a whole new workflow,” Yan said. “It’s about creating feedback loops between the designer, the model and intelligent systems.”

Teaching AI To Understand Space Like People

Design isn’t just about shape and use. It also needs spatial intelligence: being able to picture, turn and move objects in 3D.

While people do this naturally, AI still has a hard time. “Spatial intelligence is a core skill in architecture and STEM fields,” Yan said.

To study this problem, doctoral candidate Monjoree Uttamasha led an NSF-funded project testing AI models like ChatGPT, Llama and Gemini. They used the Revised Purdue Spatial Visualization Test, a common test for spatial intelligence. Their study won Best Paper in the Computer Vision category at the 2025 IEEE Conference on AI

The results were clear: without extra context, AI models often failed to notice how shapes rotated or changed in space. Human participants outperformed the AI by a wide margin.

However, when given simple visual guides and math notations, the AI got a lot better. These findings show that AI can learn spatial thinking, but it needs more training with background information.

With the right help, AI tools can start to think more like human designers. Yan’s team sees this project, along with others in their lab, as a step toward improving AI technology and how design is taught.

“This research points to ways we can enhance both AI tools and educational methods,” Yan said. The lab’s work builds on more than 20 years of research at Texas A&M, combining computational design methods, machine learning and architectural visualization.



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Optibus announces expansion of generative AI capabilities for transit schedulin and operations

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Optibus announces it has introduced new capabilities to Optibus AI, that the company claims being the “first Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) suite purpose-built for public and private operators and agencies”.

Optibus AI features a growing number of industry-specific AI agents fully integrated across the platform. “Tools are embedded where and when transportation professionals need them most. With intelligence layers for every stage of work, agencies and operators can redefine planning, scheduling, and beyond with intuitive, platform-native capabilities”, the Israeli tech company states.

Optibus expands Artificial Intelligence skills

Optibus suite suite includes a Generative AI agent that uses natural language to create complex scheduling rules: “Schedulers type preferences in plain language, such as “No more than ten duties over nine hours,” and Optibus instantly generates accurate, ready-to-use logic. No more specialized coding, configuration, or steep learning curves. Just fast, intuitive scheduling powered by AI”, reads Optibus announcement.

Preference Designer is said as reducing errors and rule configuration time by up to 70%.

Additional AI agents are on the way, including Schedule Analysis, allowing to compare optimized scenarios and charting the best path forward, and persuade stakeholders with presentation-ready analysis and actionable insights. Optibus is also set to introduce Multi-Step Automation.

According to Optibus’ industry survey, 95% of public transportation enterprises have explored artificial intelligence, but only 8% noted measurable impact. Across industries, insufficient integration into existing workflows is a key cause of unsuccessful AI trials. 

Amos Haggiag, CEO and co-founder of Optibus, said: “Generative AI is kicking-off a new chapter in how public transportation is planned and operated. Optibus AI turns decades of complex processes into simple, intuitive tools that empower teams at every level.”



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Achieving the Next Era of Intelligence

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AGI: the timeline, breakthroughs needed, why AI models are falling short and a practical path forward.

Explore how industry leaders are defining artificial general intelligence (AGI) and what it may take to reach it. Developed by MIT Technology Review and Arm, this deep dive examines accelerating timelines, the compute innovations shaping progress, and why today’s models still fall short of true intelligence. Designed for engineers, researchers, and technology leaders navigating the future of AI.

Key Takeaways

  • AGI timelines are accelerating: Experts predict early AGI traits by 2026; 50% chance of full AGI by 2047.
  • AGI demands a smarter compute strategy: Achieving intelligence at scale will require more efficient architectures, new system design approaches, and intelligent orchestration.
  • Today’s AI isn’t truly intelligent: At publication, models lack reasoning, adaptability, and understanding.
  • Benchmarks must improve: Metrics like fluid and social intelligence better reflect AGI goals.
  • Scale isn’t everything: AGI requires new architectures and approaches, not just more compute.

Read more here.



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Marquis Who’s Who Honors Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, for Expertise in Artificial Intelligence

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Marquis Who’s Who Honors Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, for Expertise in Artificial Intelligence

Sandra E. Cheung promotes AI literacy and drives technology transformations

She aims to cultivate artificial intelligence literacy among communities across the United States by planting seeds of knowledge that encourage individuals to manage future technology challenges.

BELMONT, CA, September 10, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Cheung is a distinguished leader in the technology and engineering sectors. Inspired by the emergence of artificial intelligence in the technology sector, she launched AImpowered in 2025, and the nonprofit organization has since been dedicated to educating people on safe and effective use of AI. As the chief executive officer of the firm, she has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s mission to bridge the digital divide and promote AI literacy, and she manages project timelines, coordinates meetings, implements key strategies, and monitors performance. Dr. Cheung also oversees budget expenditures, ensures compliance, and expertly supports her associates in their innovative pursuits.

Through AImpowered, Dr. Cheung offers workshops tailored for both children and adults, emphasizing the importance of in-person interactions for those affected by technological barriers. She is particularly dedicated to supporting individuals who struggle with technology, equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate the evolving landscape of AI. Dr. Cheung is also proud to curate content that helps parents gauge the influence of AI on home and school environments and to promote advocacy for children’s education in this field.

Drawing from her own experiences raising children during the rise of mobile phones, Dr. Cheung aids parents in grasping contemporary challenges posed by rapid technological advancement. Additionally, she prioritizes platforms that empower current technology workers to harness AI in their work. Notably, Dr. Cheung’s efforts through AImpowered prepare both parents and professionals to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In her comprehensive role, Dr. Cheung relies on experience gained from a series of pivotal professional appointments. From 2021 to 2024, she was the chief of staff and head of operations, strategy and planning at Webex, where she held oversight of operational efficiency and strategic initiatives that supported the company’s growth in collaborative technologies. Between 2018 and 2020, Dr. Cheung excelled as the director of software engineering at Cisco, and her signature leadership was pivotal in driving software development projects that enhanced Cisco’s product offerings.

From 2012 to 2018, Dr. Cheung provided technology and management consulting services at Cadushi, advising organizations on optimizing their technological infrastructure and management practices. Additionally, during her tenure as the senior director of infrastructure engineering and production operations at Yahoo! from 2005 to 2012, she played a critical role in addressing a significant crisis related to data center capacity amid financial constraints. Drawing inspiration from Yahoo!’s engineers, she collaborated with leadership to drive innovation among the company’s teams, inspiring others to look beyond conventional methods and galvanizing teams around a shared vision.

Before joining Yahoo!, Dr. Cheung was the director of network planning, design and analysis at Covad from 2003 to 2005, before which she served as the director of network engineering at Covad Communications from 1998 to 2003. In these positions, she oversaw network infrastructure development and strategic planning. Dr. Cheung began her professional journey in 1994 as a senior member of technical staff at AT&T, where she thrived through 1998.

The pursuit of service opportunities prompted Dr. Cheung to accept an appointment as the co-chair of the engineering council at Founders Creative in 2025, through which she contributes her expertise to foster innovation within the organization. Her commitment to promoting and advancing women in various fields is reflected through her membership in Women in Collaboration and her substantial leadership tenure with the Girl Scouts; additionally, Dr. Cheung is a proud co-founder and the acting president of the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association.

Dr. Cheung’s academic credentials are impressive and include a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Florida Institute of Technology, which she completed in 1988. She also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the University of Florida, which she proudly earned in 1993. Dr. Cheung credits her adaptability and dedication to making a positive impact on others as central to her success across diverse personal and professional platforms.

Looking toward the future, Dr. Cheung aims to cultivate artificial intelligence literacy among communities across the United States by planting seeds of knowledge that encourage individuals to manage future technology challenges. She emphasizes education as a foundation that must extend throughout all stages of learning so that younger generations can navigate change without anxiety while remaining grounded in core human values. Through her initiatives, Dr. Cheung seeks to foster collaboration and help people embrace transformative advancements.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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