This week we launched our AItopia series

This week on Dezeen, we began our AItopia series, which will explore the impact of artificial intelligence on design, architecture and humanity.

Along with an introduction to the series, which explained why we are focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), we created a guide to the key terms being used to discuss AI.

In an opinion piece as part of the series, designer Freyja Sewell argued that our obsession with cyberpunk narratives was risking dystopian visions becoming a reality.

To mark the launch of the series we revealed that British architect Selina Yau was the winner of our AI illustration competition. Created in Midjourney, Yau's haunting illustration (top) will be used as the series artwork and displayed in all its articles.

Alongside the winner, we also revealed the shortlist of 10 AI illustrations, which were picked by judges including AI designer Tilly Talbot from over 100 entries.

These included an artwork that depicts office workers sorting avocados by German architect Florian Gast (above).

In architecture news, RIBA Royal Gold Medal-winning architect Michael Hopkins, who was one of the most influential British architects of the past century, died aged 88.

Following the news we rounded up 10 key projects that defined his 50-year career from his early high-tech buildings, including Hopkins House, to later, historically routed buildings.

Exterior of Hundred Acre Wood by Denizen Works — The RIBA National Award winners were announced

Also in the UK, RIBA announced the winners of its National Awards for 2023. Among the 30 buildings recognised was a home clad in recycled TV screens (above) and a fishbone-shaped bridge.

From this list of 30, six buildings will be chosen as the shortlist for the Stirling Prize – UK architecture's top award.

Kengo Kuma skyscraper in Vancouver — Kengo Kuma completed a skyscraper in Vancouver

In Vancouver, Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates unveiled a skyscraper with a curved form named Alberni.

The 43-storey residential skyscraper in downtown Vancouver was described by studio founder Kengo Kuma as "sculptural and iconic".

This week we also heard from Nigerian architect Demas Nwoko, who criticised Europe's influence on Africa's built environment in an interview to mark being awarded the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.

"Africa is still the fresh, future frontier," said Nwoko. "Nothing has been built yet. All this time the white man in Africa has been undoing what our fathers had done."