AI-powered software analyzes PDF electrical plans and generates material and labor lists for estimating teams.
United States, August 18, 2025
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.
The United States, August 17, 2025 — AI Builder Company, Inc. has introduced an AI-powered construction automation platform designed to modernize the estimating process for the industry. Built around computer vision and generative AI, the platform is described as a fresh approach to interpreting architectural plan legends and industry symbols, with an initial focus on automating electrical takeoffs from PDF plans. The company asserts that the technology can substantially reduce the time and effort required to generate takeoffs and improve overall accuracy.
At the core of the offering is an electrical takeoffs tool that can automatically produce a comprehensive materials list and a comprehensive labor-cost estimate from PDF plans. The platform aims to streamline preconstruction work and support contractors as the industry faces ongoing workforce challenges. The company estimates that the tool reduces hours of manual work and enhances takeoff precision, positioning the product as a potential time-saver for estimators.
Currently, the flagship tool concentrates on electrical takeoffs, offering an automated path from plan PDFs to a detailed bill of materials and labor cost sheet. The firm says the current tool is designed to improve efficiency and consistency in early-stage takeoffs, with plans to broaden coverage to other trades. In the coming year, the team intends to expand capabilities to include plumbing, framing, and HVAC trades, broadening the platform’s reach across the preconstruction lifecycle.
The release notes an estimated 40% retirements of the construction workforce in the next few years, highlighting a looming shortage. The company contends that automation can deliver time savings essential to maintain project momentum as the labor pool tightens. The pilots are described as ongoing, with select contractors testing the system’s ability to improve workflow and minimize errors in takeoffs. Early results are framed as promising, though the platform remains in an early-stage development phase.
Founder & CEO Tommy Whitehead is presented as an award-winning contractor and entrepreneur who emphasizes the need to automate manual plan interpretation. Whitehead’s leadership is complemented by a founding team that includes Patrick Duffany, an AI/ML engineer with a defense and government background, and Jimmy Murray, a creative technologist focused on bridging business needs with advanced AI solutions. Duffany is noted as instrumental in developing the platform’s core AI capabilities, while Murray focuses on aligning technology with practical business needs.
The platform has formed a strategic partnership with a recognized business accelerator, providing support in areas such as business development, sales, marketing, and executive coaching. An advisory figure with a track record in guiding startups to growth is positioned to help scale operations and broaden the platform’s reach. The release also mentions a media and communications contact network intended to support ongoing conversations about the product and its deployment in trials.
Whitehead’s broader business profile includes ownership of a design-build firm specializing in affordable housing and renovations, and authorship of a book focused on entrepreneurial success. The broader mission for AI Builder Company is to broaden AI capabilities to cover other construction processes such as project management, cost estimation, and resource allocation. The company frames its work as a step toward helping contractors save time, reduce costs, and improve accuracy and quality across projects.
In the short term, the platform is expected to expand to additional trades while refining its AI models to adapt to a variety of construction projects. The company seeks partnerships and beta testers to accelerate refinement and industry reach. The enduring aim is to streamline preconstruction work, accelerate project timelines, and support more accurate cost projections through automated takeoffs and calculations.
For reference, the release notes the company’s mission as a driver of construction automation and reiterates a plan to automate labor-intensive takeoff processes to improve efficiency and accuracy. Media contacts and release identifiers are listed within the official materials associated with the launch.
The initiative is described as a leading innovator in construction automation, with a stated mission to automate the labor-intensive process of creating construction takeoffs. The platform is positioned as a tool for enhancing preconstruction workflows and enabling faster project timelines and better cost projections as trades broaden beyond electrical work.
The following frequently asked questions provide a quick reference to the platform’s scope, current capabilities, and future plans as described in the launch materials.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Platform goal | Modernize construction estimating through AI-driven takeoffs and plan interpretation |
| Current focus | Electrical takeoffs from PDF plans with automatic materials and labor cost generation |
| Core technologies | Computer vision and generative AI to interpret plan symbols and legends |
| Expansion plans | Add plumbing, framing, and HVAC takeoffs in the coming year |
| Industry context | Designed to address workforce shortages with automation; emphasizes time savings and accuracy |
| Leadership and team | Led by Tommy Whitehead with contributions from Patrick Duffany and Jimmy Murray |
| Partnerships | Strategic accelerator relationship and advisory support to scale operations |
| Long-term vision | Beyond takeoffs to project management, cost estimation, and resource allocation |
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