We've been building an AEC-specific AI model for video transcriptions for the last several months. We ran the first benchmarking of the first generation of this model yesterday against a baseline transcription model from Microsoft Azure.
One of the areas the KA-built AEC-specific model really shines so far is acronyms and product names, and I've shared some of the highlights in the attached images.
We've partnered with our clients to build this model (and we have another on the way) through our Community AI program, an opt-in program that will empower Knowledge Architecture to create AEC-specific AI Infrastructure by training AI models on client content for the mutual benefit of participating firms, while also protecting confidentiality and intellectual property.
Once released into a public beta in June as part of our Synthesis Video 2 update, the AEC-specific video transcription model should help our clients make videos both more accessible and searchable on their intranets, as well as save our intranet champions hours and hours of editing video captions.
We're really excited to share this milestone progress update with all of you and will keep you posted as we approach public beta.
To learn more about our product roadmap, including Community AI, Synthesis Video 2, Next Generation Search, and Synthesis LMS, please visit our roadmap page.
Intranet Tour: Putting Users First @ Shepley Bulfinch
Featured Guest
Jess Purcell, Design Technology Manager
Summary
We’re excited to share this intranet Tour of Finch, Shepley Bulfinch’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Our tour guide will be Jess Purcell, Design Technology Manager.
Read moreKA CONNECT 2024 | Speakers + Program
We’ve designed KA Connect 2024, our annual knowledge management conference for the AEC industry, to be “half conference, half camp,” with general sessions in the mornings, and a choose your own adventure program composed of roundtables, intranet tours, unconference hangouts, outdoor activities, and plenty of unstructured time to connect, reflect, and recharge in the afternoons.
Our program will focus on sharing strategies and best practices for using knowledge management, internal communications, learning + development, and intranet programs to help your AEC firm evolve and grow.
We're excited to announce our general session speakers today:
The Revolution of Knowledge Management at Turner Fleischer
Ellen Bensky, Partner, CEO and CFO, Turner Fleischer Architects
Behind the Scenes of ELEVATE: KTGY’s Professional Development Program
John Robison, COO, KTGY
Designing a Successful Hybrid Practice
Jim Chambers, VP, Practice Management, Shepley Bulfinch
Jim Martin, VP, CIO, Shepley Bulfinch
Knowledge Management: The Secret to Unlocking Sustainable Design
Corey Squire, Sustainability Director, Bora Architecture & Interiors
Lessons in Growth: Maintaining Authenticity in Design & Culture at Olson Kundig
Marlene Chen, Principal / Owner, COO, Olson Kundig
The Impact of Knowledge Management on a Growing and Evolving Page
John Clegg, Chief Design Innovation Officer, Senior Principal, Page
John Gloetzner, Chief Marketing Officer, Senior Principal, Page
Early Bird Registration Ends May 3rd
Take advantage of early registration pricing through May 3rd!
CONCEPT DESIGN | Synthesis LMS Version 1
For years our clients have been using Synthesis intranets to support Learning + Development programs by building “LMS light” solutions using intranet pages, posts, video libraries, and guides.
We are now advancing beyond “LMS light” solutions by adding new capabilities to Synthesis such as courses, learning paths, assignments, and transcripts, as well as the proper reporting and analytics functionality to help your firm track the progress of your learners and monitor the health of your Learning + Development programs.
This concept video is the next step in our journey toward co-creating a unique and compelling LMS offering with our community that is both AEC-specific and deeply integrated into Synthesis.
Watch this video to learn about our vision for Synthesis LMS, the scope for Synthesis LMS Version 1, release timing, and advice on what you can do now to prepare for Synthesis LMS.
Read moreRECORDING | Secrets of Great Internal Marketers
This SMPS Learning Lab webinar explores internal marketing initiatives that have moved the dial for three Knowledge Architecture clients: MBH Architects, GMB Architecture + Engineering, and Page.
Read moreNEW ENHANCEMENTS to Search, Directories, and Libraries
We’re pleased to announce the upcoming release of new enhancements to Search, Directories, and Libraries.
At a high-level, here’s what’s in the update:
Improved Employee + Contact Name Search. We created a Global Name Synonym Catalog and enabled Fuzzy Search to help improve findability of employees and contacts. For example, if you search “jeff” we’ll now find “geoff” and “jeffrey,” and if you search on “diana” we’ll also find “diane” and “dina.”
Configurable Search Scopes for Directories + Libraries. You can now choose between Basic Search and Full Search scopes to create the search experience which is better for your firm. For example, the Basic Search option will streamline your Employee Directory search scope to Employee Names. Basic Search will also streamline your Project Directory search scope to Project Names, Project Numbers, and Client Names. The Full Search option will search all fields. Once the update is pushed out, your Directories will automatically be switched to Basic Search (you can easily switch them back to Full Search) and your Libraries will continue using Full Search.
Additional Sorting Options for Filters + Groups in Directories + Libraries. You will now be able to configure filters to sort alphabetically in Directories and Libraries. For custom dropdown fields, you’ll be able to configure filters to use the sort order of the dropdown values. In addition, you’ll be able to use the sort order of custom dropdown fields to order your groups.
We will deploy this update after the close of business on Friday, March 15th.
Enjoy!
Best,
Chris
What’s on the Synthesis Roadmap?
Learn more about new Synthesis features in development, in design, and planned for the future, as well as submit product ideas on our interactive product roadmap.
SYNTHESIS AI ROADMAP | Next Generation Search, Video Captions, and Community AI
Knowledge Architecture has been working on two major AI projects for the last six months — Next Generation Search and Video Captioning.
At the same time, we have been developing an opt-in program called Community AI to create AEC-specific AI Infrastructure by training AI models on client content for the mutual benefit of participating firms.
We’re super excited about what we’re building and we hope you are too.
AI-Powered Enterprise Search for AEC Firms
Next Generation Search will bring AI-powered Enterprise Search to Synthesis.
In this video, we share our approach to both AI and Enterprise Search, including:
AI-Generated Search Summaries
Three Challenges with End-User Facing Large Language Models (LLMs)
Benefits of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Vector Search Basics
Benefits of Combining Keyword Search with Vector Search
Community AI Program Overview
Why We’re Building an AEC-Specific Embeddings Model
Enterprise Search Roadmap
Next Steps + Timeline for Public Beta
AI-Generated + AEC-Specific Video Captions
We’ll be releasing an update this spring that will add AI-generated captions, transcripts, and chapters, along with several other enhancements to Synthesis Native Video.
In this video, we go behind the scenes into:
Our AI-Powered Video Captioning Infrastructure
Community AI Program Overview
Benefits of our AEC-Specific Video Transcription Model
Next Steps + Release Timing
Introducing Our Community AI Program
Community AI is an opt-in program that will empower Knowledge Architecture to create AEC-specific AI Infrastructure by training AI models on client content for the mutual benefit of participating firms, while also protecting confidentiality and intellectual property.
In the pursuit of researching two use cases for AI — Next Generation Search and Video Captions — we discovered a unique opportunity to work with our AEC client community to achieve more relevant search results and better captioning.
Thus, Community AI was born.
DESIGN INSPIRATION GALLERY | New Additions
Looking for intranet inspiration? We have some new additions to our Design Inspiration Gallery.
You can now explore examples in three new resource categories — Onboarding and Intranet 101.
PODCAST | Overhauling Knowledge Architecture’s Synthesis v6
Our own Christopher Parsons recently connected with Evan Troxel of TRXL Podcast and Randall Stevens of AVAIL to go behind the scenes of our transition to Synthesis 6, the story of building Knowledge Architecture, and a high-level overview of knowledge management and intranets in the AEC industry
It was really fun to talk through the journey and lessons learned along the way and we're really grateful to Evan and Randall for the opportunity.
If you are curious to learn about how major software projects are designed and managed and/or how AEC firms can make the best use of their knowledge, then this episode of the Confluence Podcast is for you!
Synthesis Spotlight: Capturing Knowledge at DLR Group
Featured Guests
Stefanie Henderson, Internal Communications Leader
Colby Dietz, Knowledge Manager
Summary
We’re excited to share this Synthesis Spotlight on Square1, DLR Group’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Our guides will be Colby Dietz, Knowledge Manager, and Stefanie Henderson, Internal Communications Leader.
Read moreIDEA LAB | Next Generation Search
We're excited to announce that the Next Generation Search Idea Lab is now open for submissions.
We have been conducting R+D to determine the best ways to incorporate recent technology advances, including generative AI, semantic/vector-based search, natural language processing, and conversational chat into Synthesis Search.
In addition to incorporating new technology, we’re also investigating ways to improve our traditional keyword search, and exploring additional search integrations.
In short, we’d love to include your ideas and feedback as we strategize on how to take Synthesis Search to the next level.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Read moreIntranet Tour: Highlights from MBH's Transition to Synthesis 6
Featured Guests
Hillary Thompson, Director of Brand Communications
Summary
We’re excited to share this interactive tour of Archie, MBH’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Our tour guide will be Hillary Thompson, Director of Brand Communications.
Read moreDESIGN INSPIRATION GALLERY | New Additions
Looking for intranet inspiration? We have some new additions to our Design Inspiration Gallery.
You can now explore examples in three new resource categories—Office Resources, Practice Areas, and Launch Videos.
Intranet Tour: Highlights from Primera's Transition to Synthesis 6
Featured Guests
Matt Dvorak, Senior Vice President, Marketing + Communications
Nick Sternowski, Director of Operations
Summary
We’re excited to share this tour of Alma, Primera’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Your tour guide will be Matt Dvorak, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, and Nick Sternowski, Director of Operations.
Read morePRODUCT UPDATE | Summer 2023
We’re really excited about the future of Synthesis and want to share what’s in progress with you. This 7-minute video will provide an overview of what we’re currently building, designing, and researching, including:
Unanet AE ERP + Additional ERP/CRM Integrations
Mobile/Responsive Updates
Post Analytics + Content Optimization
Video Captions + Transcriptions, Dark Mode, and General Accessibility Updates
Synthesis LMS
Next Generation Search + AI
Search Analytics
SOC 2 Type 2 Security Compliance
We hope our roadmap reflects your intranet hopes and dreams. As always, our roadmap is completely driven by the KA Community, so please keep the questions, feedback, and ideas coming to support@knowledge-architecture.com.
Accessing the Synthesis Product Roadmap
You have two ways to access the Synthesis Product Roadmap:
Via our website. You can find the Synthesis Product Roadmap under the Support tab on knowledge-architecture.com.
Via the Synthesis 6 Help Menu. A link to the Synthesis Product Roadmap can be found in the Synthesis 6 Help Menu.
Intranet Tour: Highlights from Fuscoe Engineering's Transition to Synthesis 6
Featured Guest
Brandon Norton, Multi-Media Manager, Fuscoe Engineering
Summary
We’re excited to share this tour of Arc, Fuscoe Engineering’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Your tour guide will be Brandon Norton, Multi-Media Manager and Intranet Champion.
Read moreSAVE THE DATE | KA Connect 2024
We’re excited to announce the return of KA Connect, our annual knowledge management conference for the AEC industry.
KA Connect 2024 will take place at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah from August 13th to August 16th, 2024.
We envision KA Connect 2024 as being “half conference, half camp,” with general sessions in the mornings, and a choose-your-own-adventure program comprised of breakout sessions, intranet tours, outdoor activities, and plenty of unstructured time to connect, reflect, and recharge in the afternoons.
Sundance’s location at 6,100 feet in the north fork of Provo Canyon will provide an inspiring backdrop for you to learn from and with your fellow KA Community members.
Our program will focus on sharing strategies and best practices for using knowledge management, internal communications, learning + development, and intranet programs to help your AEC firm evolve and grow.
Early registration will open this fall.
If you’ve got ideas or thoughts to share about KA Connect 2024, please send them our way.
Save the date!
IDEA LAB | Synthesis LMS
We're excited to announce that the Synthesis LMS Idea Lab is now open for submissions.
In conversation after conversation with this community we’ve heard loud and clear that improving your Learning + Development programs is consistently one of your highest business priorities.
Knowledge Architecture is embarking on a journey to bring Learning Management System (LMS) capabilities to Synthesis. For years clients have been using Synthesis to support Learning + Development programs by building “LMS Light” solutions with pages, videos, posts, and now, video libraries and guides in Synthesis 6.
We are going to advance beyond “LMS Light” by adding new capabilities to Synthesis such as courses, learning paths, and assignments, as well as the proper reporting and analytics functionality to help your firm track the progress of your learners and monitor the health of your Learning + Development programs.
The Synthesis LMS Idea Lab is the next step in our journey towards co-creating a unique and compelling LMS offering with our community that is both AEC-specific and also deeply integrated into Synthesis.
We’d love your help!
Read moreThe Design Inspiration Gallery is Live!
We know that designing a new page, guide, or community from scratch can be intimidating.
That’s why we created the Design Inspiration Gallery. The Design Inspiration Gallery will help you jump start your Synthesis Intranet design (or redesign) process with inspiring examples from your peers in the KA Community.
We’re launching DIG with three resource categories: Home Pages, Style Guides, and Benefit Centers, and will be adding new categories and examples each month.
DIG is now live and ready for you to explore. Enjoy!
Intranet Tour: Highlights from Moody Nolan's Transition to Synthesis 6
Featured Guests
Brian Alting, Principal, Director of Technology, Moody Nolan
Nick Bower, Director of Design Technology, Moody Nolan
Summary
We’re excited to share this tour of The Mood, Moody Nolan’s Synthesis 6 intranet. Your tour guides will be Brian Alting, Principal and Directory of Technology, and Nick Bower, Director of Design Technology.
Read more