Dhaka- The Department of Architecture at North South University (NSU) hosted the third panel discussion of its 'Kathon Lecture Series,' titled “Architecture in the Era of Advanced Technology 3.0,” on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Audi 801, NSU. 

Moderated by Ar. Shahriar Iqbal Raj, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture, the session brought together faculty and students to explore AI’s expanding role in design, urban analysis, professional practice, ethics, and the future of architecture.

Key Insights from the Panel

  • Creativity vs. Computation: Dr. Mohammad Shifat-E-Rabbi, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NSU, clarified that while AI utilizes math to generate sophisticated outputs from large datasets, genuine creativity requires human emotion, philosophy, and ethics. He advised treating AI as a supportive tool while remaining mindful of its limits.

  • Tool Diversity & Critical Thinking: The panel encouraged students to experiment with diverse AI applications rather than relying on a single model. Speakers noted that AI will not replace architects, as critical thinking, ethical judgment, and core decision-making remain distinctly human functions.

  • Urban Analysis & Data Quality: Aida Hasan, Lecturer, Department of Architecture at NSU, highlighted AI's capacity to aggregate complex, city-wide data for traffic management and surveillance. However, she emphasized that its effectiveness hinges directly on dataset quality and contextual relevance, raising important considerations around privacy.

  • Financial & Ethical Integration: Ashfakul Islam, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Delta Brac Housing Finance PLC, drew parallels to the financial sector’s use of AI for mortgage decisions. He stressed that despite AI's predictive power, human oversight remains vital for high-stakes professional and ethical choices.

Interactive Discussion & Future Outlook

The open-floor Q&A allowed students and faculty to debate the boundaries between mathematics, logic, and creative expression. In his closing remarks, Ar. Shahriar Iqbal Raj urged Bangladesh to strengthen its global AI standing and challenged students to adopt emerging technologies without compromising their professional ethics or creative identity.

The Kathon Lecture Series continues to connect NSU students with contemporary technological shifts to better prepare them for an evolving professional landscape.