Issue 06 | Aug 2025
Forging New Frontiers
Built Environment
Modelling personal comfort: a smart thermostat that learns what temperature you like
ComfortGPT uses generative pre-trained models and a transformer architecture to predict individual thermostat preferences over time.
T
here’s a big chance that you’ve heard of — and used — ChatGPT. Ask the large-language-model-powered chat bot to plan a four-day getaway to Bangkok, and it’ll hand you a polished itinerary complete with temples and floating markets, punctuated with suggestions for boat noodles and mango sticky rice. Ask it about the origins of the universe, and it’ll churn out an impressively insightful response. (Though some fact-checking is still warranted.)
Graphic images in this newsletter were generated using AI and intended only as a visualisation of general concepts or ideas related to the research.