The AI Operating System for Smart Buildings: Inside B-Line with Aaron Short - Alexa's Input Podcast

What if your building was smarter and optimized energy, security, and tenant experience in the background?

In this episode of Alexa’s Input (AI), Alexa talks with Aaron Short, founder and CEO of B-Line, an all-in-one facility management platform that uses AI to automate building operations. Aaron shares how his early work in urban planning and green building led him to build an “operating system for buildings” that connects siloed systems like access control, visitor management, emergency response, work orders, smart controls, and tenant support, without ripping and replacing legacy infrastructure.
Alexa and Aaron dive into how AI agents power 24/7 customer service for property managers, reduce the need for on-site security through biometric access and digital IDs, and use occupancy and sensor data to drive real energy savings and predictive maintenance. They also explore why real estate has been historically slow to digitize, how to win in a legacy-heavy space, and where AI is having the biggest impact across proptech and climate tech.

A must listen for anyone interested in the intersection of tech, real estate, urban planning, and building management! Learn more about BLine at b-line.io.

Links:

Aaron’s LinkedIn:   / aaron-short-66213641  
B-Line’s Website: https://www.b-line.io


Listen, watch, and read more about this podcast at -

Alexa’s Input YouTube Channel:    / @alexa_griffith  
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/alexagriffith
Website: https://alexagriffith.com/
LinkedIn:   / alexa-griffith  
Substack: ⁠https://alexasinput.substack.com/⁠

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Smart Buildings and AI
02:58 Aaron Short's Journey to Founding Beeline
05:18 The Role of Data in Urban Planning and Green Building
06:22 Transitioning from Employee to Founder
08:52 Overview of Beeline and Its Solutions
11:41 AI Integration in Building Management
13:42 The Smart Building Tech Landscape
16:07 Differentiators in the Smart Building Space
18:18 AI's Impact on Energy Management and Security
20:37 The Future of Smart Buildings and Design
22:52 Advice for Founders in Slow-Moving Industries
23:45 Resilience and Learning from Setbacks
26:10 Personal Reflections on Founding Beeline
30:08 Outro