In the dynamic landscape of facility management and building automation, our curiosity drives us to ask profound “WHY” questions that fuel innovation and shape our approach to integrating transformative technologies like AI.
As we navigate the complexities of HVAC optimization, Building Automation Systems (BAS), and Digital Twins, we’ve uncovered a compelling narrative: the “WHY” behind combining AI with our unique aspirations and challenges in this field reveals a powerful synergy of curiosity, human connection, and technological advancement. Let’s explore this intersection, drawing on recent insights and real-world applications to inspire our professional endeavors.
The Power of “WHY” in Driving Innovation
Our journey begins with the simple yet profound act of asking “WHY.” As Kimon Onuma eloquently posed in his article, “We Asked Why—Now Here’s How,” these questions—“Why are smart buildings still so dumb?” or “Why don’t critical systems connect when it matters most?”—dig into the cracks of our industry, exposing inefficiencies and igniting curiosity. In our recent reflections, we’ve extended this curiosity to three specific “WHY” questions: Why use AI for writing, even when skilled at it? Why watch cartoons, even though they are not human? Why believe in God, even though no one has seen God? These queries, seemingly disparate, converge to reveal a shared purpose: they compel us to venture into uncharted territory, harnessing AI in innovative ways that cater to our unique aspirations and challenges in facility management.
The “WHY” behind AI’s integration isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about understanding its role as a partner in our work, not a replacement. At the AHR Expo 2025 panel, experts like Danielle Radden, Troy Harvey, Brian Turner, and Etrit Demaj emphasized AI’s potential to optimize HVAC systems, predict maintenance, and enable autonomous buildings, but always with human oversight and connection. Similarly, Keith Gipson’s bold claims about facil.ai’s AI-driven chiller optimization—boosting efficiency and output by 50%—and James Dice’s query about computer vision’s lag in facility management underscore a collective drive to ask “WHY” we aren’t leveraging these technologies more fully. Kimon’s call for data ownership in California’s Community Colleges further amplifies this, showing us how owning our data can unlock resilience and scalability, answering “WHY” smart buildings fail and “HOW” we can fix them.
AI as a Catalyst for Curiosity and Connection
Our “WHY” questions reveal AI’s dual role as a tool for efficiency and a spark for curiosity. Why use AI for writing, even when skilled at it? Because it frees us to focus on strategic communication—crafting reports on energy savings or engaging stakeholders—while AI handles repetitive tasks, as Danielle Radden uses it for notes, project management, and brainstorming at facil.ai. This mirrors our facility management workflows, where AI can draft maintenance schedules or visualize BAS data, allowing us to prioritize human interactions, as Danielle values too much for AI to handle, like “a good handshake and a smile.”
Why watch cartoons, despite their non-human nature? Because they inspire creativity and engagement, much like AI can animate our building operations with digital twins or predictive analytics, as Troy Harvey envisions with PassiveLogic’s physics-based models. In our facilities, we might use animated graphics to explain AI-driven HVAC optimization to teams, fostering collaboration and understanding, even if the technology itself isn’t human. This curiosity-driven approach aligns with Kimon’s critique of “Hollywood BIMs”—we seek practical, impactful solutions, not just flashy demos.
Why believe in God, despite the unseen? This parallels our trust in AI and Digital Twins, which we rely on for outcomes like energy efficiency or emergency readiness, even if we can’t see every decision, as Kimon highlights with the CCC’s Fusion System. We believe in AI’s potential—Keith Gipson’s 50% gains, Brian Turner’s predictive maintenance—because we see results, much like faith drives action. This belief fuels our innovation, ensuring we harness AI responsibly, balancing autonomy with human governance, as Danielle and the panel advocate.
Applying the “WHY” to Our Challenges
Our unique aspirations in facility management—efficiency, sustainability, resilience—intersect with challenges like data silos, industry conservatism, and legacy systems, as noted in the AHR panel and comment by Mark Dilchert, James Dice’s post, and Kimon Onuma’s article. The “WHY” behind combining these insights with AI is clear: it empowers us to overcome barriers and create smarter, more connected buildings.
- Data Ownership and Interoperability: Kimon’s CCC example shows us why we must own our data, breaking silos (as Brian Turner described) with standardized ontologies and digital twins. We can apply this by auditing our BAS platforms, adopting open standards like BACnet, and piloting AI-driven solutions like facil.ai’s chiller optimization or computer vision (as James suggests), ensuring our data drives real-world outcomes, not vendor lock-in.
- Human-AI Collaboration: Danielle’s balance of AI efficiency with human connection guides us to use AI for tasks like project management or market research, while reserving stakeholder engagement for personal interaction. This addresses fears of job loss or system failure (Tracy Markie’s customer concerns), building trust as we implement predictive maintenance or autonomous HVAC, always with human oversight.
- Incremental Innovation: James’s question about computer vision’s lag and Keith’s results-driven approach inspire us to start small—piloting AI for specific tasks like HVAC inspections or defect detection—before scaling to full autonomy, as Troy Harvey envisions with level 5 autonomy. This phased approach mitigates risks and aligns with Kimon’s call to move beyond “Hollywood” solutions, focusing on resilience and scalability.
Our Path Forward
The “WHY” behind our AI integration is rooted in curiosity, connection, and innovation. It compels us to ask: Why settle for dumb buildings when AI can make them smart? Why maintain manual processes when AI can predict failures? Why accept data lock-in when ownership can transform our future? By harnessing AI innovatively—drawing on Kimon’s data ownership, Danielle’s human-centric balance, Keith’s results, and James’s curiosity—we can address our challenges, meet our aspirations, and lead the industry toward efficient, sustainable, and resilient facilities. Let’s unite in this journey, piloting AI solutions, educating our teams, and advocating for open standards, as Kimon, the AHR panel, and our peers inspire. Together, we’ll transform our buildings, fueled by the power of our “WHY,” ensuring AI enhances our work while preserving the human connections that define our success. What’s our next “WHY” question? Let’s explore it together!
