What does AI mean for the cabinet industry?
/The internet is abuzz with discussions about newly-released innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the implications it could have for workers and industry. I haven’t seen anyone discussing these trends in the cabinet industry specifically yet, but don’t worry! The cabinet industry won’t be left unscathed by these innovative new technologies. Here are few observations and predictions:
Design Powered By AI
I used an AI program called StarryAI to design a few mudroom cabinet elevations using minimal prompting. I didn’t include any dimensions for instance, or any guidance on layout, but wanted to see what the program could put together for basic “inspiration” images comparable to renderings you’d see in a preliminary design packed. There are quirks. There are artifacts and aberrations. Overall though? They’re pretty good.
Most clients would never notice these inconsistencies. And compared with the time required to produce their traditional equivalents, they were a bargain. I see the interior design field transforming dramatically in the next five years. The first company to market with a full-stack AI-enabled CAD/CAM package for the cabinet industry wins.
Other Areas
I suspect a lot of customer service will be handed over to AI soon; much of it already has! E-mail, texting, some calls, and online chat are all great places to plug AI into your workflow. These tools could generate blog content, web site descriptions, parse contact form entries, answer frequently-asked questions with a bit of training, and eventually even weigh in on upcoming business trends.
Final Thoughts
Hands-on work by skilled artisans isn’t going anywhere. We already use CNC machinery, CAD, and other CAM solutions right now to get our work done. Installing will always be done by humans more than likely.
Now are these changes going to be net positives or negatives? That remains to be determined. Largely that’s going to depend on how our business community and government leaders decide to adapt to the changing nature of work. Based on how we’ve managed climate change, the housing crisis, industrialization, and globalization I’m not very optimistic, but I would love to be wrong!
