I just got back from the biggest homebuilder show in 17 years – NAHB IBS, where 84,000 people packed into the Vegas Convention Center to see what's next for home construction.

And if there's one name to remember, it's Reframe Systems. Why? Because their use of AI and robotics might be the coolest solution I've seen to help solve our massive housing supply crisis.

At the heart of Reframe's innovation are AI-powered microfactories, compact but highly advanced facilities that automate everything from design to delivery. Unlike traditional homebuilding, which is slow, expensive, and often unpredictable, Reframe's approach slashes build time, cuts costs in half, and reduces carbon emissions by 10x by building in a factory with robots assisting.

The result? Homes are built 2.5x faster, with 80% fewer workers, and at a fraction of the capital investment needed for a traditional factory.

From Amazon robotics to home construction

Vikas Enti knows about automation. Before launching Reframe, he spent 11 years at Amazon Robotics, leading the deployment of over 500,000 robots to transform global logistics. But here's the key: at Amazon, they didn't just automate inefficient warehouse tasks. They redesigned the entire system to eliminate wasted movement and bottlenecks, optimizing every step of the process.

Vikas is taking the exact same approach to homebuilding. Instead of simply automating traditional construction, Reframe reinvented the process from the ground up. 

Their microfactory model removes the biggest inefficiencies in home construction: unpredictable labor, wasted materials, and slow, sequential building methods. By shifting most of the work into a controlled, AI-driven factory environment, they've unlocked speed, precision, and cost savings that were previously impossible. Check out this video here.

It's not just about efficiency – it's about rethinking the entire workflow. AI isn't just assisting the process, it's driving it through:

Zoning and permitting automation: AI instantly scans and interprets local zoning laws, knowing precisely what can and cannot be built for local infill homes.

Real-time design adjustments: Change one element, and the software instantly reconfigures the structure, avoiding a time-consuming redesign process.

Precision robotics: Robotic arms handle wall-panel framing and sheathing tasks and are equipped with advanced vision systems and custom grippers.

Paper-free construction: 3D digital assembly guides replace all paper instructions and specifications, including blueprints, enabling faster, more accurate builds and allowing newly skilled workers to build quality homes.

Building infill homes at scale

One of Reframe Systems' key differentiators is the lower cost investment threshold for building at scale – past attempts at similar models – pre-AI – failed mainly because they were so capital intensive. Reframe's microfactory model, which creates local joint ventures, could scale rapidly without the gigantic VC checks. 

The current project pipeline is north of $200 million with one home completed and two triple-decker 4,400 sq ft homes under construction, with an expectation that they will be among the most energy-efficient homes ever built. 

They are now in Boston but announced their first Southern California microfactory will focus on wildfire recovery in Altadena. And while the current cost for high-price markets averages below the local average by about $100 a square foot, costs will come down, especially as AI keeps improving its building abilities.

In the long term, Vikas said the goal is $75 per square foot, making truly affordable net-zero housing a reality.

We need visionaries like Vikas to help solve the housing gap. AI and robotics might just be the answer. (-Kevin)