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In this episode of the AI AEC Show by AEC Business, I sat down with Carl Veillette, Chief Product Officer at Newforma. With a career that began in architecture and evolved into co-founding BIM Track, followed by joining Newforma, Carl brings a unique perspective on how the industry can better manage the explosion of construction data, particularly through smart, ethical AI.

We explored the future of project information management (PIM), how AI is quietly transforming jobsite workflows, and why connecting email threads to BIM models might be more powerful than it sounds.

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In this episode of the AI AEC Show, Aarni Heiskanen welcomes back René Morkos, PhD, the visionary founder and CEO of ALICE Technologies, to explore the latest advances in artificial intelligence for construction scheduling and project optimization.

The Shift: Generative AI Comes to Construction

Since their last conversation, René highlights the most significant change in the construction tech landscape: the rapid rise of generative AI and large language models (LLMs). These tools are fundamentally altering how project data is accessed, analyzed, and leveraged across the industry.

René explains how ALICE Technologies has embraced this transformation by developing two AI-driven scheduling agents. These agents don’t just generate optimized schedules—they can also interact conversationally with planners, offering insights into delays, critical tasks, progress updates, and more. This represents a leap from static scheduling tools to dynamic, intelligent collaboration.

Breaking Down Data Silos

One persistent challenge in construction is fragmented and unstructured data. AI offers a promising way forward. René points to solutions like Trunk Tools, which allow users to query entire project datasets in natural language—"Show me the change orders" or "Summarize this RFI"—without needing to manually sift through files.

This democratization of data access, powered by AI, is eliminating a long-standing bottleneck in construction project management.

A Platform for Optimization

René also discusses how ALICE's platform not only helps plan construction projects but actively explores "what-if" scenarios—testing and comparing thousands of possible construction strategies. This simulation-based approach enables teams to reduce risk, save time, and improve project outcomes with confidence.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, René envisions an increasingly automated construction planning ecosystem. As he puts it, we’re moving toward a future where the question is not just “what’s the plan?” but “what’s the best possible plan, and how do we know?” AI will provide the answers.

Takeaway: AI is not just a support tool—it’s becoming a decision partner in designing, scheduling, and executing construction projects.

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Welcome to another edition of the AI AEC Show! In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Marty Rozmanith, Co-founder and CTO of Skema.ai. Marty is an authority on AEC tech; he was instrumental in the development of Revit and now leads the charge at Skema, the company behind what they call the world’s first BIM Knowledge Reuse Engine.

Our conversation delves deeply into Marty’s roots in the industry, the inception of Skema, and how artificial intelligence is being applied in practical, creative, and measurable ways. Here are some of the most compelling insights from our talk.

Marty’s career began hands-on, starting as a carpenter before transitioning into architectural engineering, architecture, and ultimately software development. His early experiences convinced him of the need to integrate better design and construction data, a vision that continues to drive his work today.

Skema was born from real-world frustrations. When Marty and his team attempted to apply modular construction tools to a complex mixed-use project, existing platforms proved inadequate. That experience led them to collaborate with a talented tech team and reimagine the solution: a platform that turns past BIM projects into flexible, reusable “3D puzzle pieces” that architects can easily adapt for new projects.

At its core, Skema speeds up schematic design by 6–8 weeks. It ingests BIM models, extracts meaningful design intelligence, and enables architects to quickly assemble and morph designs to meet new briefs; all while producing high-quality native Revit data. AI plays a crucial role by automating catalog generation and refining project data, ensuring speed without compromising accuracy.

Crucially, Marty emphasized that AI in architecture should act as an assistant, not a replacement. Skema helps free designers from tedious rework, allowing them to focus on creativity and value creation. Additionally, design catalogs built within Skema become strategic assets for firms, enhancing both project delivery and knowledge retention.

Looking ahead, Skema is building a flexible ecosystem that enables seamless integration of tools like SketchUp, Rhino, and Revit within a data-driven workflow. They are also exploring integrations with automated MEP design solutions to further push toward pre-coordinated, prefab-ready models.

If you’re curious about how AI can speed up and enrich architectural design workflows, Skema.ai is worth a closer look. You can learn more, request a demo, or dive into their blog at skema.ai.