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.
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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