topic AI Assistant does not work in AI Solutions

AI Assistant does not work

Elke_He — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:18:58 GMT

Although I have an official license, the AI Assistant does not work for me. The following message appears:
"Oh no...
You do not have the necessary permissions to use the AI Assistant. Contact your system administrator for more information."
What do I need to enable in the system settings (Win 11) for it to work?

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

_nique_ — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:00:55 GMT

we experienced the same issue - you need a cloud licence or software license instead of a perpetual license (dongle).

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

Elke_He — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:48:11 GMT

It can't really be true that long-standing customers with “old” contracts are excluded from the new features! Will there be any changes to this?

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

jl_lt — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:28:00 GMT

currently, the only way to fix it is by throwing some more good ol money into graphisofts account.

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

Marcell Hillier — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:51:48 GMT

Thank you for sharing this case, and for raising such an important question.

AI Assistant is part of Graphisoft’s new generation of cloud-enabled solutions, which means it requires a cloud license to function. I'm sorry, it’s not available with perpetual or key-based (dongle) licenses. This isn’t about excluding users, it’s simply that AI services rely on a secure cloud infrastructure.

I’m personally sorry if this has caused disappointment, but please know that we truly don’t want to imagine our future without our long-standing customers, without you! That’s exactly why we created this AI Solutions open group: to have honest, open conversations like this one.

Always feel free to reach out to us here.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Mauricio_br — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:52:19 GMT

I went through the same disappointment! I own a perpetual license with Forward, and it's up to date. But... No access to AI ASSISTANT.

And as much as Graphisoft and its representatives claim to care about their longtime customers, the truth is: We were overlooked, left out.

No matter how much we've invested in the company, we either give them more money right now or we'll be crying in the bathroom at lunch.

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:40:48 GMT

Hi @Marcell Hillier

All that you say makes sense... but AC 29 has exactly the same issue that AC 28 had with regards to cloud-based functionality: an inappropriate error message is displayed when clicking on the AI button. See attached. It is not an issue of "permissions"... the error message should clearly state that the functionality is only available with cloud licenses, and perhaps provide a link to more info. It took one or two hotfixes AC 28 before the proper error messages for cloud functionality were displayed there...

edit; tagged Marcell since he didn’t reply the his plaintext name

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Roman-PS — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:20:42 GMT

Now we have different classes of Archicad users, and the subscribers are VIP. I cannot believe it.
It's time to search for alternatives.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Roman-PS — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:34:50 GMT

AC 29 is so minimalistic in its improvements, and there are almost no new features—and then the unthinkable happens: the only promising new tool, the AI assistant, is not available for the AC core user base, who once purchased one or more AC licenses for a not-so-tiny amount of money, keeping it current with the annual "maintenance" fees (aka Forward), and then suddenly, you are out of the game. You are a second-class user. Left behind in the development of AC.

To be honest, I was afraid that GS would try to push/force us into the subscription trap by any means. But not so early....
I am really disappointed!

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Atelier Casagrande — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:02:13 GMT

Sehr geehrtes TEAM ArchiCAD,

als Nutzer von ArchiCAD seit 1996 macht sich auch bei mir Ärger über das Thema mit Nichtfunktion als unbefristeter Lizenz-Nutzer (Dongle) AI-Assistenz in ArchiCAD 29 breit. Der Ärger befeuert die grundsätzlichen Überlegungen zum Wechsel zu Gunsten eines Mitbewerbers. Es ist en vogue geworden, diejenigen die ein System oder eine Gesellschaft mit aufgebaut haben, im zwanghaften Blick nach vorn, abzuhängen. Ich freue mich wie sicher viele Andere auf Nachbesserung oder Lösungsvorschläge. Grüße aus Dresden.

[Moderator: Please post in English on the English forum. Here is the English translation for now:

Dear Archicad TEAM,

As an Archicad user since 1996, I'm also annoyed by the issue of the AI assistant not working with the perpetual license user (dongle) in ArchiCAD 29. This annoyance is fueling my fundamental considerations about switching to a competitor. It's become fashionable to leave behind those who helped build a system or a company in an obsesive pursuit of the future. Like many others, I'm sure I'm looking forward to improvements or suggestions for solutions.

Greetings from Dresden.]

Betreff: AI Assistant does not work

Atelier Casagrande — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:09:44 GMT

👎

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Johannes Pfau — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:57:01 GMT

I would like to echo the previous speakers. For years, we have been helping to improve the program through discussions with support, wish lists, etc. Now, despite an expensive maintenance contract, I have to offer my employees a "light version" with limited functionality. This is unsatisfactory and will hopefully change.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Barry Kelly — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:29:55 GMT

I don't think this will ever change,

As Marcel said, this is a cloud-enabled feature and requires a cloud license to work.

The thing is you can not have a perpetual cloud license, as they simply work for the latest version and back to 26, but only while you are paying for the subscription.

It will automatically upgrade to each new version so long as you are paying the subscription.

I can't see Graphisoft creating a perpetual cloud license as they would have to be able to lock it at a particular version if you do not pay the subscription.

It is much simpler to have a license that just works for all current versions back to 26.

You stop paying, then you lose access to the license.

I look at it this way.

I bought my perpetual license back when this AI feature did not exist.

Essentially I have not paid for something I don't have.

However, I am currently paying the subscription to upgrade my license, and this gives me access to a cloud license and hence also the AI assistant.

If I stop paying the subscription, I will lose the AI assistant, but I never paid for it in the first place.

So. my choice is now, keep paying the subscription and have access to upgrades and cloud based features. or stop paying and fall back to the perpetual version of the software that I paid for.

Barry.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Patrick M — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:42:58 GMT

I don't even get that. I click the AI button, and nothing... just activates the arrow/selection tool behind the button... and I definitely have the cloud license

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Bricklyne Clarence — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:03:38 GMT

I'm going to take issue with the notion that, you (..the general or royal 'you') - the perpetual license holder and user - haven't paid for this and therefore don't deserve access to it, or to be able to use it.

I'd be very hard pressed to believe that Graphisoft began developing this tool only in the last year or even the last couple of years, and to the extent that it's been a long-term project percolating in the background (and even if it really has been just a one year so far, project) did the resources, and more pointedly, the funding resources just fall out of thin air or with magic dust, to allow them to develop it?
Or did it (...or at least some of it) not come from the license fees that perpetual license holders (i.e....almost everyone not on SSA's and that sort of deal) have been paying over the years?

Perhaps the argument is that the funding has come from some sort of discretionary rainy day, sort of piggy bank fund that GS have that enable them to develop these kinds of experimental tool without imposing the financial and resource burden on regular user.

In which case, then you're left with the very obvious question begged:-

What the hell has been happening with all the (Perpetual) license fees we've been paying all these years: - at least in the last several, ....or I'd say 6-8 versions?

We were under the impression that these were the sort of things we were being told that GS is working on in the background hence the reason we weren't getting any noticeable improvements or upgrades.

You could make the argument that some of it has gone to developing tools like the MEP addon/Designer suite, or the SAM tool.....in which case, you're simply opening up a bigger can of worms with regards to what Graphisoft is delivering or not, to paying (ARCHITECTURAL) customers and their expectations.

Fact of the matter is that AI Assistant (and to a lesser extent, features like Dark Mode on Mac platform) are features that Graphisoft is using to heavily promote this version - despite (...I'd argue) BOTH their status as "Experimental"* or "Partial/Incomplete" features.
On the one hand how do you justify using features that are not even accessible or usable by most of your users as one of the key prime new features and tools of the new version?

(*A legitimate argument could even be made on that the notion that a feature or tool still considered "Experimental" or "Beta" in no way justifies it to be 'Exclusive' or locked out for some users as it's not even a finished product, and that Graphisoft are the ones benefitting from this sort of "open beta" that allows them to freely get feedback at no cost by users testing them on professional projects))

On the other hand, how valid really is the claim that the reason these users don't have access to it is because they haven't paid for it given what we know about development cycles and for how long they tend to run?

What's even more puzzling is the idea that they're doing this, almost underlining the fact that 'Subscription-only' is the way that GS is moving forward - even as they try to make the argument to non-subscription users that if they make the jump it will be worth their license fees money.
And yet the opening gambit is to say, ......"Well, you Perpetual license holders can't use this tool (whose development you at least partially, or in whole, helped pay for), but if you make the jump to Subscription, you'll have access for it.

Just not in this current (...not so) fully featured version you're paying for."

Just how effective a sales pitch is that?

I'd say make it make sense for me, but honestly I'm out of the whole "making sense of Graphisoft's marketing/PR/Customer relations strategies" business.

And I should point out, I'm not even one of those users that's particularly enthused about AI assistant or the AI Visualizer.
But I do commiserate with the angst of those other Perpetual license holders who are rightly annoyed by this decision.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Roman-PS — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:36:05 GMT

Thank you! Very well thought out and written down.

I endorse every line.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Roman-PS — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:45:38 GMT

What?

A very weird attempt to justify this shady ignorance by GS towards almost all current AC users.

Of course, when you purchased the perpetual licence, you paid for the existing version of AC at that time.

But after that, year after year, we have paid, and still pay, a so-called maintenance fee for each licence you have, specifically for further development of the asset (Software Licence) we own.

So, we all paid for all the new features.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Barry Kelly — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:34:52 GMT

So you have paid for the upgrade to 29 but you did not take out the subscription that gives you the cloud license and access to cloud features?

There is a bit of an overlap there.

AI Assistant came out in version 29, so maybe AI Assistant should be in 29 regardless of the license type.

But as it needs 'cloud technology', you would have to upgrade to a cloud license and the only way I know to do that is take out a collaboration subscription.

Barry.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Bricklyne Clarence — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:26:34 GMT

Making the AI Assistant "Cloud license" dependent or exclusive is a choice by Graphisoft.

Not a bottleneck limitation or something they were forced to do.

I'm sure some will argue that this is the case given the technology, invovled, but the AI Assistant is not the first tool they've released in recent years that was dependent on Graphisoft's Cloud Server services or Cloud-based features access.

But it's seemingly the first one they're choosing to limit this way (along with the AI Visualizer now).

That this is coming just before the switch to Subscription-only licensing, while implying that you need Collaboration subscription to use it going forward, is no coincidence.

And they're choosing to do so because in anticipation that it is a tool that many will want to use or at least try out, it strengthens their hand in making the argument for the switch to Subscription for any Perpetual license holders still on the fence or looking elsewhere.

It was pointed out years ago when Graphisoft first got into this Cloud-server business and game that this would be the end-game, and it wasn't necesarrily good news for us, the end-users.

Tie a whole bunch of critical tools and services to the cloud server technology and that way you can add an extra layer of control (....and charge more $$$ if needs be), create new tiers of user privilege and access, and ultimately now,......make it the cornerstone of their new licensing model.

Re: AI Assistant does not work

Mauricio_br — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:54:46 GMT

This conversation is very interesting, and it's good to be able to read about several different points of view.

Without a doubt, I was frustrated and felt overlooked in the perspective that they offered me a perpetual license plus a maintenance contract. Pause for reflection... do you know anyone who buys a car and also a separate maintenance contract? Buy a house and a parallel maintenance contract? All these acquisitions are perpetual until one chooses to resell them.

Something that should be on our radar is that BIM 2.0, ... 3.0... in the coming years, should bring new software options for AEC beyond AC, RVT, VW...

Just as digital cameras changed the fate of Kodak, video streaming changed the fate of Blockbuster, and social networks changed the fate of printed newspapers and magazines.

Innovations in AEC software should arrive with a bang. And it is precisely the way a company relates to its clients, who are in fact the ones who finance the investors, that will define the fate of current, "old" architecture, modeling, and BIM software and apps.

For many, D5 Render, Twinmotion, and Enscape have made the built-in renderer in AC superfluous. Is it really worth paying for that, for a built-in renderer?