From Congress to inventor, former South Florida U.S. Rep. aims to protect his company’s AI technology.
MIAMI — Did you know you can patent Artificial Intelligence? As AI tools flood the market at a rapid pace, companies are racing not just to innovate, but to protect those innovations.
Miami-based Togal.AI announced today that it has secured 5 patents and has 6 patents pending related to the use of artificial intelligence in construction estimating, positioning the company as an early leader in the fast-growing construction AI space.
“While many people don’t realize it, artificial intelligence tools can be patented,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Togal.AI and a former South Florida U.S. Representative. “Our early entry into construction AI allowed us to build a strong and defensible patent portfolio, which means others attempting to do the same may be infringing on our intellectual property. We’re essentially building a protective wall around our technology.”
Founded in 2019, Togal.AI developed AI technology that reads construction blueprints and automates one of the most time-consuming aspects of bidding: measuring spaces and objects within building plans to produce accurate cost estimates.
Togal.AI’s patents are intended not only to protect the company’s investment, but to define clear boundaries for innovation in construction technology, establishing legal protections that prevent competitors from copying or stealing proprietary AI algorithms, models, and applications.
Togal.AI’s 5 patents include:
- Methods and apparatus for quantifying requirements in construction of a building
- An AI system that interprets 2D construction plans to automatically quantify materials, labor, and other building requirements by emulating human plan-reading and decision-making.
- Methods and apparatus for artificial intelligence conversion of a two-dimensional reference into a takeoff
- An AI engine that analyzes 2D architectural floor plans to generate construction takeoffs, including room dimensions, net floor area, and quantity measurements.
- Methods and apparatus for artificial intelligence conversion of change orders into an actionable interface. An AI-based method for identifying and tracking design changes in 2D plans and translating them into actionable impacts on materials, costs, and labor.
- Methods and apparatus for artificial intelligence conversion of a two-dimensional reference into an actionable interface. An AI system that converts 2D construction drawings into structured, actionable project requirements for planning and execution.
- Apparatus for artificial intelligence determination of building metrics for code compliance. An AI-driven apparatus that evaluates building plans to calculate key metrics and assess compliance with applicable building codes and regulations.
The announcement comes as patent activity in artificial intelligence continues to grow exponentially. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), while AI systems themselves cannot be named as inventors, AI tools are patentable as long as a human inventor makes a “significant contribution” to the innovation.
“The onrush of technology knows no bounds,” Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), John A. Squires said in a recent news release. “From crypto and AI, to quantum computing and diagnostics, the marketplace presents breathtaking opportunities for invention and investment. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? What I do know is that these are applied and patent-eligible technologies driving the frontiers of knowledge.”
For Togal.AI, the growing patent portfolio reflects both the maturity of its technology and its commitment to long-term leadership in construction automation.
“Our team built an AI solution specifically for construction, not a repurposed tool,” Murphy said. “Togal was originally trained on a proprietary dataset of over 100,000 drawings, curated and labeled by a team of 20+ architects and engineers. As AI adoption accelerates across the industry, securing patents is critical to protecting true invention, and rewarding genuine innovation.”
About Togal.AI
Based in Miami, Florida, Togal.AI is one of the fastest-growing construction technologies, with thousands of users from some of the world’s largest contractors. Named by the South Florida Business Journal as a top startup to watch, Togal also won The Big 5 Global Construction Pitch Competition in Dubai, AGC Innovation of the year and Miami’s eMergeAmericas Startup competition judged by Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary. The company was featured on the EntrepreneurTV show Elevator Pitch, selected for Venture Atlanta, and has made BuiltWorlds’ Pre-Construction 50 List four years in a row, which names the hottest construction-tech companies in the world.
Join the conversation!