Most contractors start with a general AI tool like ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. Those handle writing, summaries and research. Then they add AI that's built into construction software for specific jobs, like document search in Procore or Autodesk, takeoffs in Togal.AI, site photos in OpenSpace, scheduling in ALICE and payroll prep in hh2's Vyki.
We didn't rank these tools, and we haven't tested all of them. The details below come from each company's own website, checked in September 2026. AI products change often, so check the current version before you buy.
What we did do is look at each one through the same three questions from our AI policy guide:
Does it use our existing permissions? People should only see what they're already allowed to see.
Does it keep a record? You should be able to look back at what was asked and what changed.
Does a person approve the work? AI can draft and suggest. Someone on your team should sign off.
These are the tools most of your team has likely tried. The free and personal versions are fine for testing. For company work, look at the business plans, which add admin controls.
| Tool | Good for | What the business plans offer |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Drafting, summaries, research | Business and Enterprise data isn't used for training by default. SSO on business plans. Custom roles on Enterprise. |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Long documents, drafting, analysis | Enterprise inputs and outputs aren't used for training by default. SSO, role-based access and audit logs (audit logs are Enterprise only). |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Email, Word, Excel and Teams work | Only shows company data the user already has permission to view. Prompts aren't used to train its models. Admins can review interactions. |
| Gemini in Google Workspace | Gmail, Docs and Sheets work | Company data isn't used for model training outside your domain without permission. Admin access controls and audit logging. |
How they compare: Copilot and Gemini follow the permissions you've already set in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. ChatGPT and Claude only see what someone pastes or connects. All four are chat tools, so a person decides what to do with the answer.
These tools work inside systems that already hold your project data. That's their big advantage. The AI can see your specs, drawings and RFIs without anyone pasting them in.
| Job | Tool | What the company says it does | Permissions and review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project documents | Procore AI | Agents for searching specs, drawings, RFIs and submittals with citations, drafting RFIs, reviewing submittals and contracts, and building daily logs from photos, voice and email | "Mirrors Procore project permissions," with "human oversight on agentic action" |
| Project documents | Autodesk Assistant (Autodesk Forma) | Searches specs, RFIs, issues, submittals, meetings, change orders and schedules. Drafts emails, summaries and reports | "Based on license type and user permissions" |
| Estimating and takeoff | Togal.AI | Detects, measures and compares items directly from drawings, including changes between drawing sets | Not stated on their site. Ask on the demo. |
| Site photos and progress | OpenSpace | Maps 360 photos from a walk to your floor plans and lets you compare the same area on different dates | Not stated on their site. Ask on the demo. |
| Scheduling | ALICE | Runs what-if scenarios on schedules built in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project | Not stated on their site. Ask on the demo. |
| Payroll prep | Vyki (hh2) | Finds missing time, sends reminders, chases approvals and checks timesheets for overtime before payroll | Uses your hh2 permissions, logs every action, waits for Payroll Manager approval |
We built Vyki, our AI payroll assistant in hh2 Time Tracking, around the same three questions. She works inside your hh2 permissions. Every action is logged under the user's identity. She proposes changes and waits for your Payroll Manager to confirm. And she won't give tax advice, classify workers or rule on whether a pay practice is legal.
Start with what you already pay for. If you're on Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Procore or Autodesk, check what AI is already included.
Pick the job first, then the tool. A takeoff tool won't help with payroll, and a chat tool won't count fixtures.
Ask the three questions on every demo. Permissions, records, human approval.
Test it on a real job. Use your own drawings, specs or timesheets, not the vendor's sample.
It depends on the job. For writing and summaries, most contractors use a general tool like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Gemini. For project documents, look at the AI in Procore or Autodesk. For takeoffs, estimating tools like Togal.AI. For payroll prep, hh2's Vyki. Check permissions, records and human review before you buy.
Not unless someone pastes it in or connects them to your systems. That keeps them simple, but it also means they can't see your drawings, RFIs or timesheets on their own. Tools built into construction software work with the data already there.
They can be, with the right plan and rules. Use business plans with admin controls, not personal accounts. Look for tools that follow your permissions and keep records. And have a person check anything tied to cost, safety or pay.
Not for everything. General tools handle email, summaries and research well. Construction-specific tools make more sense when the AI needs your project data, like searching specs, counting from drawings or checking timesheets.
Make a short list of the jobs that take your team the most time. Match each one to a tool, then ask the three questions on the demo.
If timesheets before payroll are on that list, book a demo and see how Vyki works.