Nearly twenty years ago, a college student penned his final thesis on software that could generate design documents for school buildings. Al Drams was studying architecture—carrying on a family tradition that included his parents and grandfather—but his true fascination lay in technology. There was just one obstacle: the technology needed to bring his idea to life didn't exist at the time.

"Then ChatGPT came along," Drams recalled, referencing OpenAI's release of the generative AI chatbot powered by large language models (LLMs) in November 2022. Suddenly, his long-dormant concept felt far more achievable. Within six months, he founded Blueprints AI, a startup that leverages AI to create code-compliant, permit-ready architectural construction blueprints in minutes from a 2D sketch or PDF.

During the two decades leading up to Blueprints AI, Drams earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Tehran, then completed two years of Ph.D. coursework in digital design at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. He relocated to the United States and established an architecture firm called Drams Architects in 2018. After securing a general contractor's license, he expanded into construction with a second business in 2021.

Drams should have felt content. He didn't. "I was saying, okay, maybe I can build new projects that change people's life in that area, but it wouldn't be a big impact," he explained. "What makes me very excited about technology is the impact, the hours saved, the energy saved of people doing the same thing over and over and over."

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Blueprints AI is set to reveal a more advanced second-generation version of its software at Disrupt. According to Drams and Cao, this release will make a significant impact by automating the repetitive drafting tasks that consume most of an architect's workday. "It will make better spaces for people because now architects have the time to design," Drams said. He noted that architects currently devote roughly 80% of their time to drafting and only 20% to actual design. "I want to flip that to be 20-80."

Drams and Cao crossed paths at an AI conference several years back and decided to merge their expertise to build the company. Cao, a data scientist hailing from Hong Kong, oversees sales and go-to-market strategy in her role as chief commercial officer. The duo trained their models using eight years of approved drawing sets from Drams' design and construction firm, which remains operational.

The first-generation software generates architectural construction documents and is priced between $3,200 and $8,500 per month, depending on the selected plan. Custom pricing for enterprise clients is also offered. The startup's second-generation software represents a substantial leap forward. Customers can begin with a description or sketch of a project and generate blueprints covering every aspect of a building simultaneously—architecture, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and interior design. Version 2 enables users to design and modify projects, an improvement over the initial iteration. Crucially, a single design change updates the entire project and is validated against local building codes.

Early adopters are already using the second version, and Drams confirmed it will become publicly available this week. The startup is already developing a third version that will incorporate structural analysis and electrical panel design. According to the co-founders, the technology does not replace licensed architects. Licensed professionals continue to review the documents and apply their seal before submitting them for permits. The judgment remains human, they emphasize.

Blueprints AI is targeting two distinct groups with its new software. Professional architecture, engineering, and design firms form one segment, while developers and real estate owners constitute the other. The startup provides its software via subscription and may introduce a one-time flat-fee option for those needing it for just a single project.

To learn more about Blueprints, discover hundreds of other startups, and hear from headliners like RJ Scaringe of Rivian and Amjad Masad of Replit, join us at Disrupt, beginning Tuesday in downtown San Francisco.