“Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day…”
If that line sends a chill down your spine—or takes you back to the ‘90s—it’s probably because you’ve seen Terminator 2. Released in 1991, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic gave us a glimpse into a future where machines rise up, and humanity fights back. And while we’re not exactly battling Skynet in 2025, artificial intelligence is starting to feel a little… real.
But don’t worry. This isn’t a doomsday article. On this episode of What the RFI, I (Matt Brennan) dive into the role AI is actually playing in construction administration and why it’s not here to replace you—but it might just take some of your more boring tasks off your plate.
From Turing to Terminators to Turbocharged Tools
The roots of AI go back to the 1950s when Alan Turing asked the now-famous question: Can machines think? Fast-forward a few decades, and we’ve moved from clunky room-sized computers to pocket-sized super machines. By the time Terminator 2 hit theatres, the seeds of machine learning were already planted, and they’ve been growing—fast.
In 2022, AI really hit the mainstream with the launch of tools like ChatGPT. Suddenly, it wasn’t just researchers or coders talking about machine intelligence—your average architect or project coordinator could fire up a browser and get help drafting a spec, summarizing an RFI, or even reviewing contracts in seconds.
AI in the AEC World: Not Sci-Fi Anymore
If you haven’t dipped your toes into AI yet, now’s a good time. You’re probably already using some form of it without realizing it—tools like Grammarly (for catching typos in your emails) or Fathom (for automatically generating meeting notes) are powered by AI. And they’re just the beginning.
I’ve been using ChatGPT myself for a while now. Needing a site safety requirement document for a city permit? It took me 30 seconds. Summarizing pages of RFI responses? All this was done while you sip your coffee!
But beyond the office, AI is appearing in design tools, renderings, estimating platforms, and construction administration software.
Let’s talk about a few standouts.
Tools like TestFit are making site feasibility studies almost instant. You plug in zoning, program requirements, and constraints—it spits out workable schemes. Swapp.ai is automating early-stage design documentation. Hypar helps with repeatable workflows, especially for things like office layouts. Even Delve, from Sidewalk Labs, is giving us AI-powered urban design simulations.
On the rendering side, tools like Midjourney are blowing people away with fast, visually striking concepts. Are they accurate enough for CDs? Not really. But for early client presentations or mood boards, they’re a game-changer.
When it comes to estimating and takeoffs, Togal AI helps automate quantity extraction and cost breakdowns—super useful when contractors throw in extras, or you’re trying to validate scope quickly.
And in the world of CA? Two names stand out.
OpenSpace lets you virtually walk the job site, track progress, and even tie images to inspections.
But the real jaw-dropper for me is Part3. If you haven’t checked it out, it’s an all-in-one contract admin tool built specifically for architects. Their AI submittal review tool can read your specs and automatically generate a shop drawing log. That alone is a game-changer. You can try it for free, by the way—head to Part3.io.
Because AI won’t replace people, three people with AI will outpace five without it.
What’s Coming Next?
We’re only scratching the surface here. I’d love to see AI tools evolve actually to cross-reference submittals with both the specs and the drawings. Imagine an RFI reviewer who highlights scope gaps or missing references for you. We’re getting close.
Predictive issue tracking based on past project data? That’s on the horizon. AI-generated field reports with auto-tagged photos? Already starting to happen.
All of this points to one thing: the tools are getting smarter, and if you’re not exploring them yet, you’re missing out.
So… Is AI Coming for Your Job?
Not quite. AI isn’t replacing you. It’s replacing the mindless tasks that eat up your time. Drafting boilerplate specs, creating meeting summaries, and scanning submittals for basic compliance checks—AI can handle those. But it can’t replace your judgment, your experience, or your eye for design.
Yes, it can write an RFI. But it doesn’t know what should be asked. Yes, it can suggest design ideas. But it doesn’t know your client, or your site, or your context. You’re still the driver here. These tools are just the horsepower.
And let’s be honest—there are limitations. Garbage in, garbage out. AI hallucinations are real. You can’t trust it blindly, especially in high-stakes scenarios like specs or contracts. That’s why due diligence matters. You’re still responsible for what gets submitted.
Also, check your firm’s AI policies before you start uploading documents to ChatGPT or other platforms. Many firms are creating internal guidelines around usage, and it’s smart to stay on the right side of that.
“The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it for the first time with a sense of hope—because if a machine, a terminator, can learn the value of human life… maybe we can too.” – Sarah Connor
One Last Thing Before You Go
You might be wondering: Was this post written by AI? Nope, well, sort of 😆. Authenticity matters!!!
Everything in this episode—and this blog—is based on real experience. AI can’t fake that. And it’s the same for you. Your design decisions, your judgment calls, your field experience—that’s what makes you valuable. AI helps you work smarter, faster, and with fewer late nights.
So try one new tool this week—just one. Maybe it’s ChatGPT, or maybe it’s Part3. See what it does for you.
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