How I’m Actually Using Construction AI Tools in My Building Business

There’s a lot of noise around AI right now.

Every week there’s a new promise that a tool will “revolutionize” your business. Most of it feels overwhelming, especially in the construction industry, where we’re already juggling schedules, clients, trades, finances, and everything in between.

But here’s the reality: AI is already here. And most of us are using it more than we realize.

For me, the question isn’t whether AI will change the building industry. It already is. The real question is: How can we use construction AI tools to free up our time? 

I’m not an AI expert. I’m just a builder trying to use a few tools in practical ways to make my days more efficient and a little less chaotic.

Here’s what that actually looks like in my world right now.

The AI Tools I’m Actually Using

I’m not running some futuristic, fully automated company. Most of what I’m doing with AI is pretty simple, but it’s making a noticeable difference.

One of the biggest time savers has been using Fyxer AI for email. My inbox gets hit from every direction with clients, trades, team members, vendors, and personal stuff. Fixer helps categorize what’s important and what’s not, and it can auto-draft responses for a lot of the shorter emails.I still review them, of course, but it speeds up how fast I can respond and keeps things moving.

I also use Otter quite a bit. It’s great for note-taking during client meetings, internal conversations, or even when I’m brainstorming blog ideas. Instead of trying to write everything down or remember what was said, I can just have the conversation and let the software capture it.

Some of the blogs and content we produce start with a recorded conversation that gets transcribed. That alone has saved me a lot of time and mental energy.

Then there’s ChatGPT, which I mostly use as a creative assistant. If I’m stuck on a marketing idea, a headline, or a way to explain something, I’ll run it through AI. Sometimes I’ll throw a scenario at it like a process problem or a communication issue and see what ideas it comes back with.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a great way to get unstuck.

One of my goals this year is to actually spend more intentional time learning these tools. I’ve carved out half-days every other Friday dedicated to either finance or AI. Right now, I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface.

The funny part is, we’re already using AI-powered technology in a lot of places throughout the construction process without even thinking about it. Our financial software, Adaptive, uses it. Platforms like Buildertrend, our email systems, even our phone systems have AI baked in.

Many builders don’t think they’re using AI, but they are.

How Not to Use Artificial Intelligence

People ask me all the time: “What AI tools should I avoid?”

Honestly, I don’t think the issue is usually the tools. It’s how we use them.

I’ve definitely been guilty of buying software, getting excited about it for a day, and then never touching it again. That’s a dumb idea, and I’ve done it more than once.

My advice is simple:Try one thing at a time.

Pick a single tool. Use it for a month. See if it actually saves you time or reduces stress. If it doesn’t, move on. 

AI and the Building Industry

If I look ahead a few years, the biggest opportunity I see with construction AI tools is to help eliminate the daily grind.

Scheduling. Calendar and project management. Setting up meetings. Chasing down confirmations. All the small, repetitive tasks that eat up our days but don’t really move the needle creatively or strategically.If AI can take more of that off our plates, we can spend more time on the creative side of the business.

I also think AI will have a big impact on imagery and client communication. Faster renderings, quicker feedback loops, and more visual conversations with clients could compress timelines in a really positive way.

But here’s the important part.

Just because we can move faster doesn’t mean we should fill that time with more work.

If you’re an architect curious about AI, this recap of our last collective is for you!

Buy Back Your Time

In the Curious Builder community, we’ve been talking a lot about the book Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. That idea has stuck with me.

AI should help us buy back our time, not just speed us up so we can cram more tasks into the day.

If we use AI to respond to emails faster, schedule meetings quicker, and generate content more efficiently, but then we just pile on more work… what’s the point?

The real win is using that saved time to be more present. With our families. With our teams. With our clients. Or even just with ourselves.

That’s the discipline part. AI can give us the speed, but we have to choose what to do with it.

Start Small, Stay Curious

If you’re a builder or entrepreneur wondering where to start with Artificial intelligence, my advice is simple:

• Pick one tool.

• Use it for a real problem.

• See if it buys you time.

• Then build from there.

You don’t need a futuristic tech stack. You just need a few tools that actually make your day easier.

Stay curious, keep experimenting, and remember the goal isn’t just efficiency.

The goal is a better life.