Published Date::08/10/2024
The Nemetschek Group, a Munich, Germany-based leader in AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) software, has unveiled an ambitious new vision for artificial intelligence (AI) in its product portfolio. The company, known for its innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology, is set to introduce a common AI layer across all its daughter companies' products by 2025.
The announcement builds on the recent establishment of the AI Innovation Hub, a dedicated team led by former Google executives Charles Sheridan, Chief AI and Data Officer, and Julian Geiger, VP of AI Products and Transformation. This new AI layer aims to revolutionize how AEC professionals work by enhancing creativity and productivity through advanced AI tools.
The New AI Layer
Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group, emphasized the company's commitment to empowering AEC professionals “Our goal is to empower architects, engineers, contractors, and building managers by providing them with tools that expand their expertise. We believe that human intelligence, paired with advanced artificial intelligence, can push boundaries. By integrating the new AI layer into our key solutions, we aim to unlock new possibilities and revolutionize workflow efficiency.”
The AI layer will be embedded in all major solutions starting in 2025 and will operate in three primary ways
1. Intelligent Automation This feature will offer automated task execution, adaptive project management, and natural language interaction, simplifying even the most complex tasks.
2. Insight-Driven Decision-Making It will help users achieve AI-powered data insights, guiding design processes and optimizing decision-making.
3. Design Augmentation AI will assist in design iterations, pattern creation, and scenario simulations, leading to more innovative and creative outcomes for AEC projects.
Additionally, the modular AI layer will include collaboration tools to enhance stakeholder interactions throughout the product lifecycle.
Vision and Implementation
Julian Geiger, VP of AI Product and Transformation, shared the Group's excitement about this development “We are excited to introduce an AI-powered layer that will be integrated across all our brands and products, bringing new levels of intelligence and automation to our entire ecosystem. Our intention is simple We aim to make creativity more creative and productivity more productive. By embedding AI into our offerings, we are enabling more efficient workflows, more precise decision-making, and more personalized experiences that empower professionals to do their best work.”
Ethical AI
The Nemetschek Group is dedicated to ethical AI development, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability. Charlie Sheridan, Chief AI and Data Officer, emphasized the importance of trustworthiness and data privacy “As a leading software provider in the AEC/O industry, we are committed to developing AI technologies ethically. We prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability, creating AI systems that are explainable and free from bias. Privacy and data security are at the core of our AI initiatives, and we implement strong safeguards to protect sensitive information.”
Before the AI layer goes live, Nemetschek will conduct rigorous testing and validation under human oversight to ensure reliability and ethical standards.
Distributed AI Leadership
The AI Innovation Hub team, led by Sheridan and Geiger, includes key AI leaders from daughter companies such as Graphisoft, Vectorworks, Allplan, and Bluebeam. This distributed leadership approach ensures that AI vision is not top-down but includes critical input from each daughter company.
A new policy within the Group aims to prevent duplication of work. If a key innovation from a daughter company has significant value across the entire Group, the originating company will be asked to share that work. This policy promotes efficiency and collaboration, as demonstrated by the AI Visualizer, which is now active in all the Group's BIM solutions.
Conclusion
The Nemetschek Group's new AI layer represents a significant step forward in transforming AEC workflows. By integrating advanced AI tools across its product portfolio, the company aims to empower professionals, enhance creativity, and drive productivity. The focus on ethical AI and collaboration ensures that the technology is developed and implemented with the highest standards of trust and reliability.
Q: What is the Nemetschek Group's new vision for AI?
A: The Nemetschek Group's new vision for AI is to integrate a common AI layer across all its daughter companies' products by 2025, aiming to boost creativity and productivity for AEC professionals.
Q: What are the three primary ways the AI layer will operate?
A: The AI layer will operate through Intelligent Automation, Insight-Driven Decision-Making, and Design Augmentation, providing automated task execution, data insights, and creative design assistance.
Q: How is the Nemetschek Group ensuring ethical AI development?
A: The Nemetschek Group is committed to ethical AI development by ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability. They prioritize explainable AI systems, free from bias, with strong data security and privacy safeguards.
Q: Who leads the AI Innovation Hub?
A: The AI Innovation Hub is led by Charles Sheridan, Chief AI and Data Officer, and Julian Geiger, VP of AI Products and Transformation, both former Google executives.
Q: What is the new policy within the Group to prevent duplication of work?
A: The new policy ensures that if a key innovation from a daughter company has significant value across the entire Group, the originating company will be asked to share that work to avoid duplication and promote efficiency.