Impact of Artificial Intelligence Tools and Text-to-3D Model Generators on Interior Design

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the present world is significantly impacting the field of interior design and architecture. This is due to the use of AI tools in 3D modelling and design, through computer-aided design (CAD). Therefore, the issue of inclusion of AI tools in design education arises, and a method to do so by using AI services which are accessible to students is needed. With this objective in mind, applications of CAD and AI were explored to gain a basic understanding of 3D modeling and prototyping in interior design. This led to the realisation that furniture is one of the main components of an interior design project. A few categories of furniture were then finalised based on their importance in interior design and a dataset  was created to gather images of real furniture against 3D modelled furniture, both AI-generated and self-made. Google Teachable Machine is then used to create an image model to categorise furniture and detect deformities in the images of furniture in the dataset. The image model is then tested, following which a smartphone application implementing the above-mentioned concept is proposed, which is publicly accessible. The results of the testing elucidated the need for a service to help with the scanning of 3D models. This paper seeks to aid design students in accessing AI tools and better the design pedagogy by equipping them with the skills necessary to master AI tools. This paper also paves the way for further innovation in AI tools which are inclusive and accessible to students, by developing the proposed solution appropriately.