TT5: Know Enough to Know Better

Last week, I was working on a Revit tool to copy elements from selection sets into another model. Claude quickly generated code, and it worked beautifully. That is, until I tried copying elements from a drafting view.

The code crashed hard. So I pasted the error back to Claude, and it confidently explained that the method it used doesn't work with view-based elements. To fix the error, I'd need to recreate all the elements from scratch by reading their properties and recreating them in the new model. What followed was a wall of code. Hundreds and hundreds of lines. It looked super complicated.

Something felt off. To double-check, I opened the Revit API documentation. Turns out there's an overload of the CopyElements method specifically for view-based elements. One additional parameter, problem solved. Claude's approach would have added hundreds of lines of unnecessary code and a whole lot of headaches.

This experience perfectly illustrates what Scott Young explores in his article below: AI can make us incredibly productive, but there's real danger in losing the foundational skills that make that productivity meaningful. This week's links all orbit this theme—the tension between AI capabilities and human expertise, why your knowledge still matters, and how to navigate a landscape where the tools are powerful but imperfect.

Quick note: My employer, Ulteig, is hiring a BIM Implementation and Content Specialist. It's a remote position focused on Revit standards, content, and training. If you're interested, check out the posting and feel free to reach out with any questions.

Alright, here are five things to check out this week. 

#1: Will AI Make Us Stupid?

Scott Young tackles the question we're all wondering about. His argument: just because a machine can perform a skill doesn't mean it's not worth learning. Mental math, for example, builds the intuition that makes calculators useful in the first place. The same applies to coding, writing, and design—AI collaboration works best when you actually understand what you're collaborating on.

Click here to read the full article at Scott H. Young.

#2: My Project Doesn't Exist

Nathan Miller at Proving Ground created a complete museum competition entry—sketches, Revit screenshots, CFD analysis, renderings—in under 10 minutes using AI image generation. None of it is real. His point isn't that AI will replace designers, but that AI threatens to erode trust in professional capability through content that looks comparable but is hollow. It's a sobering reminder that authenticity and rigor still matter.

Click here to read the full article at Proving Ground.

#3: From Scripts to Strategy

In this TRXL episode, Evan Troxel talks with Matt Goldsberry about turning computational design into actual business value. The discussion covers moving from one-off scripts to repeatable standards, building dashboards that matter to leadership, and separating AI hype from reality. If you've ever wondered how to get buy-in for your automation efforts, this is worth your time.

Click here to listen to the episode at TRXL.

#4: Views from the AEC Data Lake

AEC Magazine dives deep into why firms should care about data lakes and why the file-based workflows we've used for decades are holding us back. The core argument: your most valuable asset isn't your drawings or models—it's the data inside them. And right now, most of that data is locked inside proprietary formats you don't really control. It's a longer read, but essential for anyone thinking about where BIM is headed.

Click here to read the full article at AEC Magazine.

#5: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects

After all that heavy AI discussion, here's a palette cleanser. Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins share their annual gift guide with twelve architect-approved picks - no categories, no rules, just items they own and stand behind. If you've got an architect in your life (or you are one), this might save you some holiday shopping stress.

Click here to listen to the episode at Life of an Architect.

That's all from me. I hope you're having a great week.

Michael