REPLAY: From Moleskin to Machine - An Architect's Journey to Head of AI
From Chatting GPT by Maryrose Lyons
January 11, 2026 · 22 min · Season 6 · Episode 5
About this episode
Breffni Greene discusses his transition from architect to Head of AI and Design Innovation, highlighting the impact of AI on creative processes in architecture.
Breffni Greene spent 10 years as a practicing architect at Henry J Lyons before spotting ChatGPT on screens across the studio—line managers had no idea their teams were using it. Shadow AI was rampant. Rather than crack down, he convinced leadership to create a new role: Head of AI and Design Innovation. The taboo was real—colleagues worried AI would erase their writing skills and creative thinking. But once people found their hook, everything changed. The managing director discovered new prompting techniques. Junior staff transformed messy interview transcripts into publishable narratives using 11 Labs. Report writing shifted from painful compliance to creative storytelling. Since December, they've processed 500 million tokens at 0.17 cents per message using OmniChat's multi-model platform. Breffni's 2035 vision? Sitting with his moleskin and pen, drawing architecture, knowing the mundane work is handled—proof humans didn't lose to machines. Show Notes Guest: Breffni Greene, Head of AI and Design Innovation, Henry J Lyons Architects Key Topics: [03:09] Shadow AI discovery - ChatGPT on screens across the studio, line managers unaware, the catalyst for Breffni's role. [04:28]…
People in this episode
Host: Maryrose Lyons
Guest: Breffni Greene
Topics covered
- AI in architecture
- Shadow AI
- Design innovation
- Creative storytelling
- Technology adoption
Keywords
- architecture
- AI
- ChatGPT
- design innovation
- creative writing
- technology
- Shadow AI
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Henry J Lyons
Products: ChatGPT, OmniChat, 11 Labs
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