Use AutoCAD with AI via MCP
AutoCAD projects consist of thousands of drawings with metadata, versions and references – a structure that is hard to search. Autodesk publishes official sample MCP servers for its Platform Services. We run them as a container inside your CompanyGPT environment, so the whole connection stays in your tenant.
What is AutoCAD?
Autodesk AutoCAD is the world’s most widely used software for technical drawing and 2D/3D design and a de facto standard in architecture, construction and mechanical engineering offices across the DACH region. Traditionally AutoCAD runs as a desktop installation; through Autodesk Platform Services (APS), drawing data, storage, conversion and automation are additionally accessible via cloud APIs. AutoCAD Web adds a browser-based variant.
For AI agents the interesting part is less the geometry than everything around it: where is the current version of a drawing, which revision was released, which projects does a change affect? Those questions can be answered through the APS data services. That turns a grown drawing archive into a searchable knowledge source for design, work scheduling and project management.
Connection at a Glance
- MCP server
- Official Autodesk sample servers (APS), self-hosted
- Transport
- stdio – operated as a container in your own tenant
- Authentication
- APS OAuth2 (2-/3-legged) or Secure Service Accounts
- Interfaces
- APS REST APIs (Data Management, Model Derivative, Automation API)
- Operating model
- Desktop installation plus cloud services (APS)
- Note
- No hosted remote endpoint available from Autodesk
How to Connect AutoCAD to CompanyGPT
Autodesk maintains official sample MCP servers for its Platform Services in its own GitHub organization – among them aps-mcp-server-nodejs and aps-mcp-server-python, each including reference implementations for authentication. These servers run as local stdio servers; Autodesk does not offer a hosted remote endpoint.
We take those servers as a starting point, harden them for enterprise use and run them as a container inside your CompanyGPT environment. Authentication against APS uses OAuth2 – two- or three-legged – or Secure Service Accounts with a private key. Key material and tokens therefore live in your own cloud tenant rather than with an external service. Through the APS REST APIs for Data Management and Model Derivative, the assistant gains access to storage, metadata and derivatives.
One boundary matters: drawings that exist only locally or on a file server inside the company network are reachable only if that storage is connected – for example via a secured network link, or by moving the files into an already connected repository such as companyFILES. Desktop-side automation via AutoLISP or the .NET API remains tied to the individual installation.
Note for on-premises operation: CompanyGPT runs in your own Azure tenant – so your on-premises network can be connected directly: via a site-to-site VPN (Azure VPN Gateway) or ExpressRoute between your corporate network and the virtual network of your CompanyGPT environment. The system does not need to be publicly reachable; we set up the connection together with your IT team.
Typical Use Cases
How AI agents in CompanyGPT work with AutoCAD
Search the drawing archive
Design asks for drawings relating to a part or project and receives the hits with location, version and modification date – instead of clicking through folder structures.
Trace revisions
Project management has the existing versions of a drawing listed with their creation dates in order to confirm the released revision before production starts.
Request derivatives
For supplier coordination, the agent triggers the generation of viewer or PDF derivatives through the Model Derivative API without anyone having to open AutoCAD.
Frequently Asked Questions
AutoCAD and AI – the most important answers
Is there an official MCP server for AutoCAD?
Autodesk publishes official sample MCP servers for Autodesk Platform Services in its own GitHub organization, including authentication reference implementations. A remote endpoint hosted by Autodesk does not exist so far – the server is operated yourself.
Where does that MCP server run?
Inside your CompanyGPT environment, as a container in your own cloud tenant. Credentials, tokens and retrieved data therefore stay within your environment.
Can the assistant see drawings on local workstations?
Only if that storage is connected. Data held in the Autodesk cloud services is reachable via APS. Purely local files require the file server to be connected or the files to be placed in an already connected system.
How is access secured?
Through APS OAuth2 or Secure Service Accounts with a private key. Scope is limited by the APS permissions of the account in use, and roles and groups in CompanyGPT additionally control who may use the integration.
Will the AI modify our drawings?
Only if you explicitly enable write tools. We configure the integration read-only by default, so the assistant researches and summarizes metadata without touching design revisions.
AutoCAD and Your AI – GDPR-Compliant with CompanyGPT
CompanyGPT is the enterprise AI assistant in your own cloud tenant: all relevant AI models, your company data and integrations like AutoCAD – centrally managed, with roles and permissions. We set up the connection together with you.
AutoCAD is a trademark of its respective owner (Autodesk Inc.). Its mention describes compatibility and does not imply any partnership or endorsement. Availability and scope of the connection depend on the respective vendor.