Automation Meets Craftsmanship - Interview with Barrett Ames of BotBuilt

In this episode of The Common Chord, Carlton sits down with Barrett Ames, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of BotBuilt, to explore how automation can enhance craftsmanship rather than replace it. Barrett shares how his team is building robotics systems that eliminate repetitive labor while empowering builders to create more beautiful, efficient, and precise homes.

He explains how AI-driven modeling from PDFs can detect design errors, streamline takeoffs, and close the feedback loop between architects, framers, and component manufacturers. The result is a construction process that’s more integrated, accurate, and human-centered.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction – Meet Barrett Ames, Ph.D.
00:40 – The challenge of labor shortages and smarter automation
01:10 – Turning carpenters into “10x builders” through robotics
02:00 – Automation as a tool for creativity and craftsmanship
03:00 – Integration between BotBuilt and Paragon’s open design tools
04:10 – Building AI from PDF to CAD model
05:30 – How feedback loops improve accuracy and design validation
07:00 – Catching architectural errors before they reach the job site
08:20 – Why the future of construction is collaborative and constraint-driven

Links:
Learn more about Paragon: https://paragontruss.com

Explore BotBuilt: https://botbuilt.com
Find more Common Chord interviews: https://paragontruss.com/blog

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