Podcast Summary: The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

Episode 460: Ryan Fink and Ty Frackiewicz—Can AI Build My House?

Release Date: November 25, 2025
Guests: Ryan Fink & Ty Frackiewicz (Co-founders, Diggs)
Main Theme:
Exploring how AI is revolutionizing the home-building industry through the “digital twin” concept, streamlining construction, improving transparency for homeowners, and addressing industry workforce challenges.

Episode Overview

Mike Rowe hosts entrepreneurs Ryan Fink and Ty Frackiewicz, co-founders of Diggs, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming home construction and ownership. The conversation covers how AI can make the building process more efficient, reduce errors, empower tradespeople, attract the next generation of workers, and create digital “user manuals” for homes. Insights are also shared about overcoming resistance to tech adoption in construction, the future of skilled trades, and the unique journey of the Diggs founders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis of Diggs and AI in Home Building

• [00:03] Mike shares his initial skepticism about AI companies promising to revolutionize home building, only to watch Diggs gain traction.
• [04:26] Ty and Ryan discuss their backgrounds and entrepreneurial journey, including a lighthearted exchange about being the “most famous Ryan Fink.”

“It seems you've taken artificial intelligence. You've applied it to something near and dear to my foundation...and it's really been fun to watch and see how this is playing out in real time.” —Mike Rowe [04:29]

2. What is Diggs? The Digital Twin Explained

• [06:58] Diggs offers pre-construction software to help builders collaborate and plan, but its main innovation is integrating diverse building documents into a 3D digital twin for each home, documenting everything from floorplans to paint colors.
• [08:52] This digital twin acts as a “Carfax for your home,” tracking all materials, appliances, and even maintenance or repairs, vastly increasing transparency for homeowners and future buyers.

“Now you're getting a 2600% increase on information on your home...you can better maintain it, understand it.” —Ryan Fink [06:58]

3. Real-life Impact—For Builders, Homeowners, and Trades

• [06:05] Diggs is being adopted in educational programs (e.g., Copper Country School District), giving students hands-on building experience before graduation.
• [11:00] AI can reduce the stress and confusion for homeowners making countless decisions during a build, potentially even helping couples avoid marital strife.

“When I was building houses for married couples, building a house was so stressful. It was the top three reasons of getting a divorce.” —Ty Frank Skivich [11:00]

4. Communication Breakdowns & “Game of Telephone”

• [12:23] The traditional construction process is described as a game of telephone—every handoff increases the chance of costly miscommunications. Diggs centralizes all information, mitigating this.

“The odds of a miscommunication are 100%. It's absolutely gonna get screwed up.” —Mike Rowe [12:31]

5. Will AI Replace Architects? Limits & Opportunities

• [15:46] AI’s ability to suggest and design based on user input is growing, but the consensus is that human creativity and site-specific insights keep architects relevant.

“The thing that AI can't do, it can't go to the lot. ...Architects—why they're so creative—they're artists...AI can't replace that.” —Ty Frank Skivich [16:42]

6. Speed of AI Change & Industry Adoption

• [20:20] The podcast discusses recent leaps in AI adoption (citing Oracle’s earnings) and the obsolescence risk for those slow to adapt.
• [33:30] Slow tech adoption in construction is attributed to developers' lack of hands-on industry insight and generational resistance among tradespeople.

“These larger companies, every company needs to get on board.” —Ryan Fink [21:06]

7. AI, Efficiency, and Skilled Trades—Friend or Foe?

• [35:10] AI could take over monotonous tasks, letting skilled tradespeople focus on craft and user experience.
• [38:28] Ultimately, Diggs’ primary customer is the homeowner; the goal is a seamless experience and digital record—whether you’re building or buying an existing home.
• [40:17] AI makes construction roles appealing to younger generations accustomed to digital workflows and can amplify the impact of a shrinking workforce.

“AI can be their copilot. As they're onboarding...they can be an expert in takeoffs, whereas before it would take months and months.” —Ryan Fink [41:00]

8. Overcoming Tech Reluctance and Scaling Up

• [55:19] The biggest challenge is convincing large builders to upgrade to cloud-based solutions, enabling AI integration, and proving ROI through “lighthouse” early adopters.

“How do you get a multibillion dollar national builder to change course to that degree?” —Mike Rowe [56:19]

9. Founders’ Journey & Vision

• [23:28] Ryan and Ty describe their early forays into computer vision, AR, and consumer tech—leading to multiple startups and successful exits before Diggs.
• [43:12] Their aspiration is to build a generational company impacting every aspect of homebuilding and maintenance, akin to “Zillow or Airbnb” in scale.

“We want to take this company all the way. So we think it'd be a big, big public company.” —Ryan Fink [37:53]

10. The Skilled Trades Shortage—Can AI Help?

• [52:01] Despite a demographic crisis (more retirees than entrants), AI can entice digital-native workers and make existing staff more effective, but the industry must reinvest in vocational training.

“It's a really high job satisfaction...90% job satisfaction for the trades.” —Ryan Fink [54:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Home Ownership Experience

“Wouldn’t it be great if [your house] came with a user’s manual?” —Chuck [02:16]

• On AI in All Areas

“Is AI going to touch every single daggone thing there is? ...Absolutely.” —Mike Rowe & Ryan Fink [05:18]

• On Dark Secrets of Real Estate

“There are certain states you're not forced to tell the buyer that a murder occurred.” —Ty Frank Skivich [09:38]

• On Decision Fatigue in Building

“I've seen people just check out, almost collapse under the weight of having to decide an endless list of things.” —Mike Rowe [10:32]

• On the Relentless Pace of Change

“My only hesitation in having this conversation with you guys is it's going to be obsolete in about 48 hours.” —Mike Rowe [19:54]

• On Stubborn Builders

“A lot of them are on prem...printing things out.” —Ryan Fink [56:02]

• On Their Founding Dynamic

“We've been friends since fifth grade...Our first company idea was to open a Baskin Robbins.” —Ryan Fink & Ty Frank Skivich [43:47]

• On Their Inspiration

“All of it’s for the ice cream, at the end of the day.” —Ryan Fink [51:40]

Important Timestamps

• [06:05] — AI and vocational education: students build homes using Diggs.
• [06:58] — What is Diggs? Digital twin explained.
• [11:00] — Stress of building homes, decision fatigue, and AI’s role.
• [15:46] — Will AI replace architects?
• [20:20] — Speed of AI progress and industry adaptation.
• [35:10] — Can AI “bring back” craftsmanship?
• [37:29] — Tangible time and money savings from Diggs.
• [40:17] — AI and the next-gen trades workforce.
• [56:02] — Big builders resisting cloud-based AI solutions.
• [57:19] — Partnering with a top 10 builder as a “lighthouse” case.

Tone and Atmosphere

• Conversational, curious, and humorous—Mike’s irreverence and the guests’ down-to-earth stories balance the technical talk.
• Pragmatic skepticism meets authentic optimism—the guests don’t oversell AI, acknowledging limitations and the need for human expertise.
• A “box of chocolates”—frequent asides, jokes, and references to previous careers/life events keep the discussion lively.

Conclusion

This episode demystifies AI’s role in homebuilding, showing how “digital twins” and process automation can save time, reduce errors, and create enduring, transparent records for homeowners. While there are barriers—cultural and technological—to industry-wide adoption, Diggs’ founders are optimistic, positioning their solution as both a tool for modern efficiency and a bridge for the future of skilled trades. AI, for them, doesn’t replace the artistry or people in the process; it empowers everyone involved—from the classroom, to the jobsite, to the homeowner.

“Everybody should have a digital twin or homefax. On their home.” —Ryan Fink [51:32]