Architecture firms turn to AI, but investment and training gaps persist

by ciara_lalor-lindo | September 23, 2026 3:46 pm

This month, the AIA[1]/Deltek Architecture Billings Index special practice questions asked firm leaders about their adoption of and investment in AI technology.

According to AIA:

•  48% of responding firm leaders indicating they are currently engaging with AI at their firm
• 18% reported it is a strategic priority
• 30% reported their firm is actively using AI and modeling its behavior
• 34% reported that their firm’s current approach to AI adoption is reactive
• 15% said that their approach is currently passive/cautious.

AIA found that large firms with annual billings exceeding $5 million were significantly more likely than smaller firms to report actively engaging with AI, with 30% indicating it is a strategic priority at their firms. Large firms were significantly more likely to report having a dedicated budget for AI, and much more likely to provide AI training in response to individual demand.

Formal training for AI is not typically provided to staff, says AIA.

• 7% of responding firms overall have a formal AI training program
• 26% providing AI training on an individual basis.
• 43% of large firms provide AI training in response to individual needs, yet only 12% have established a formal training program.

At firms that are currently using AI:

• 22% report that it has substantially increased their firm’s productivity so far
• 2% indicate that it has decreased their productivity
• 76% say that productivity has remained about the same

Responding firm leaders also reported:

• 15% have a budget allocated specifically for AI this year
• 47% indicated that they do not have a dedicated budget, but instead purchase AI/emerging technologies from other budget lines
• 38% reported that they do not invest currently in AI/emerging technology.

Large firms were far more likely to have a dedicated AI budget: 30%, compared with 9% of mid-sized firms and 1% of small firms.

Two-thirds of firms expect to increase AI investment in 2027, rising to 84% among firms with dedicated AI budgets and 75% among those funding AI through other budget lines, in contrast to 41% of firms that do not currently invest in AI/emerging technology.

— With files from AIA

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/architecture-firms-turn-to-ai-but-investment-and-training-gaps-persist/

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