AI workspace Avoice "levels the playing field" between small and large architecture firms

Promotion: San Francisco start-up Avoice has developed an online workspace for architects that uses AI to automate the most "repetitive, labour-intensive" parts of the job and help smaller firms compete.

The digital platform was designed to reduce the manual burden associated with specifications, quality assurance and regulatory compliance, which Avoice founders Chawit and Chawin Asavasaetakul say takes up a huge amount of studio time.

With many smaller studios lacking time and resources, the founders say Avoice helps to level the playing field between smaller and larger architecture firms as it allows leaner teams to operate with "a level of rigour" that previously only large studios could afford.

Avoice platform — Avoice is an AI workspace for architects

"As regulatory frameworks become more demanding and projects increasingly data-driven, the ability to deliver accurate and coordinated documentation is becoming as critical to architectural quality as formal or aesthetic ambition," the duo explained.

"By embedding AI into areas of practice that have traditionally required significant time and specialist expertise, lean teams are able to manage complexity, reduce risk and maintain a level of technical rigour previously associated with much larger studios."

The workspace's founders explained that most AI implementation in architecture is focused on image generation and enhancing conceptual design tools, but their start-up has taken a different approach.

Unlike many existing AI architecture applications, Avoice does not intervene in the design process itself.

Instead, it takes care of the "repetitive, labour-intensive and risk-sensitive work" of navigating regulation, documentation and risk management.

The system is able to analyse project documentation, identify gaps and inconsistencies, and assist with checking and review processes.

Avoice is led by founders Chawit and Chawin Asavasaetakul

Avoice also has plans to "move beyond" AI-assisted workflows and instead use fully autonomous agents, which handle repetitive tasks end-to-end, with minimal user input.

This month, the company is set to launch its Research Agent initiative, which enables architects to quickly source tile suppliers.

Here, the Avoice AI agent will autonomously search the internet based on the architect's criteria, email suppliers to request quotations and product data sheets. Afterwards, it compiles the information into a Google Sheet and sends the architect a summary via email or text, "all without any intervention along the way".

The founders explained that this allows teams to quickly query large volumes of technical information – such as tile suppliers – which subsequently enables them to focus on their design goals.

"Rather than intervening in design authorship, these tools are being used to support the repetitive, labour-intensive and risk-sensitive work that underpins architectural delivery," the founders said.

Avoice screenshot — Avoice doesn't intervene in the actual design process

"Avoice has been developed to apply AI to the back-office and technical foundations of architectural practice rather than to design generation," the founders explained.

"The platform is intended to augment architectural judgement rather than replace it."

"In this context, AI is emerging less as a disruptive force and more as an enabling layer that supports consistency, accountability and professional responsibility."