United States, August 18, 2025
News Summary
A new construction tech startup unveiled an AI-powered platform that automates electrical takeoffs from PDF construction plans. The system combines computer vision to read drawings and industry symbols with generative AI to assemble comprehensive bills of materials and labor cost estimates. Pilots with select contractors are underway to validate workflow improvements and accuracy gains. The tool aims to cut manual estimating hours, help mitigate workforce shortfalls caused by retirements, and speed preconstruction timelines. The company plans to expand support to plumbing, framing and HVAC and is seeking beta partners to refine models and trade-specific features.
AI Builder Company, Inc. launches an AI-powered platform to automate electrical takeoffs from PDF plans with plans to expand to plumbing, framing, and HVAC
Dateline: United States, August 17, 2025. In a move described as a step toward modernizing the construction estimating process, AI Builder Company, Inc. announced the launch of an AI-powered platform designed to automate takeoffs directly from PDF architectural plans. The initial focus is on electrical takeoffs, with an explicit roadmap to add plumbing, framing, and HVAC in the next year. The new platform leverages computer vision and generative AI to interpret plan legends and industry symbols, aiming to reduce the time and effort required to generate construction takeoffs and associated cost projections.
The company positions its technology as a way to modernize the estimating process by translating complex plan information into actionable lists of materials and labor costs. By automatically parsing symbols and legends found on plans, the tool is intended to minimize the manual interpretation that often accompanies preconstruction work. The developers say the approach can increase efficiency and improve accuracy in takeoffs, addressing a longstanding pain point for estimators who frequently juggle multiple versions of documents.
Founded by Tommy Whitehead, who leads a design-build background through TomCo Solutions, the company also counts an engineering and technology team including Patrick Duffany, a seasoned AI/ML engineer, and Jimmy Murray, described as a bridge between business needs and advanced AI solutions. The leadership notes that the existing estimating process can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when teams must manually interpret symbols from complex construction plans. The firm emphasizes that the new AI Builder platform is designed to automate the interpretive steps, returning valuable time to estimators for other tasks.
The flagship platform is currently focused on electrical takeoffs from PDF plans, generating a comprehensive list of required materials and labor costs. Company statements suggest the tool reduces hours of manual work and improves takeoff accuracy as core benefits. As part of its growth strategy, AI Builder plans to expand coverage to plumbing, framing, and HVAC trades over the coming year, signaling a broader push to automate multiple preconstruction disciplines.
Industry context cited in the release points to a broad challenge: an estimated 40% of the current construction workforce is expected to retire in the near term. In this environment, the company argues that time saved through automation will be essential to coping with workforce shortages while maintaining project schedules and budgets. The platform is described as being piloted with select contractors to test workflow improvements and error reduction in takeoffs before broader rollout.
The company is pursuing partnerships and beta testing to refine the system and expand industry reach. Founding team members include Patrick Duffany and Jimmy Murray, both described as experienced professionals in AI, machine learning, and business automation. In addition, the project benefits from a strategic ecosystem partnership with Black Dog Venture Partners, with Scott Kelly, CEO of Black Dog, serving as a strategic advisor. The collaboration is framed as a means to support business development, sales, marketing, and executive coaching as the platform scales toward broader market adoption.
The AI Builder team envisions a longer-term path that expands beyond takeoffs to cover multiple facets of the construction workflow. Plans include enhancements in project management, cost estimation, and resource allocation, with the overarching aim of saving contractors time, reducing costs, and improving project accuracy and quality. As the platform remains in its early stages, industry observers are watching for how quickly the company can translate pilot successes into a robust, scalable product that can be adapted to a wide range of project types and document formats.
In addition to the core product roadmap, the release highlights the role of a multi-disciplinary founding and advisory network, including Patrick Duffany and Jimmy Murray, as well as external partners that are positioned to help navigate market entry and growth. The company has also outlined a plan to expand trade coverage, beginning with plumbing, framing, and HVAC, and to continuously refine its AI models to improve adaptability across diverse construction projects. The underlying goal remains to support contractors by shortening preconstruction timelines and improving cost projections while maintaining or increasing accuracy and quality.
Media contact information and release identifiers accompany the launch, underscoring the formal nature of the announcement and its role in expanding opportunities for pilots and partnerships. The release presents a snapshot of a developing platform positioned at the intersection of AI and construction workflows, with a stated trajectory toward broader automation across trades in the near term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the primary function of the AI Builder platform?
A: The platform uses computer vision and generative AI to read PDF architectural plans, interpret symbols and legends, and automatically generate material lists and labor cost estimates for takeoffs, starting with electrical work.
Q: Which trades are planned for future coverage?
A: The roadmap calls for expanding the platform to plumbing, framing, and HVAC in the coming year, expanding automated takeoffs beyond electrical work.
Q: Who are the key people and partners involved?
A: The project is led by founder Tommy Whitehead, with core team members including Patrick Duffany and Jimmy Murray; a strategic partnership with Black Dog Venture Partners provides business development and coaching support, while Scott Kelly contributes as an advisor.
Q: What workforce context does the release reference?
A: The release notes that a significant portion of the construction workforce is expected to retire in the next several years, underscoring the potential value of automation to maintain productivity and timelines.
Q: How can contractors participate in pilots?
A: The platform is being piloted with select contractors, with invites for partnerships and beta testers to help refine the system and validate its impact on workflow and error reduction.
Q: What are the stated benefits of the platform?
A: The main benefits are reduced manual work hours, improved accuracy of takeoffs, and the potential for faster project timelines and more reliable cost projections as automation expands to additional trades.
| Feature | Description | Status / Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Platform focus | AI-powered automation of takeoffs from PDF plans, starting with electrical work; interprets plan legends and symbols using computer vision and generative AI. | In operation as a pilot with select contractors; expansion planned to additional trades in the coming year. |
| Core benefits | Automatically generates material lists and labor costs; reduces manual work hours and increases takeoff accuracy. | Reported advantages in early pilots; ongoing evaluation during pilots. |
| Expansion roadmap | Next trades targeted for automation include plumbing, framing, and HVAC. | Timeline: within the next 12 months. |
| Industry context | Industry-wide workforce retirement pressure cited as a driver for automation to maintain efficiency and timelines. | Key consideration for broader adoption; informs product need. |
| Partnerships and advisory | Strategic partnership with Black Dog Venture Partners; advisory support from Scott Kelly; combined aims to scale operations and refine market approach. | Active collaboration to support business development and product refinement. |
| Long-term vision | Broaden AI capabilities to cover project management, cost estimation, and resource allocation across construction workflows. | Strategic objective; phased rollout as AI models adapt to more scenarios. |
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