Friend or foe: what does AI mean for construction firms and workers?

Love it or loathe it, AI will be coming to a construction project near you soon. It is already reshaping multiple industries and job roles with 93% of UK organisations using AI in some capacity.

Adoption in construction is set to ramp up in the coming months as 39% of the industry’s decision-makers prioritise AI and machine learning as part of their innovation efforts.

AI sparks job security anxiety

Although AI could help construction firms tackle issues around skills shortages, usage needs to be balanced with job security for the sector’s two million workers. 

Half of all UK adults are already concerned about the impact of AI on their job. This anxiety is not unfounded: the National Foundation for Educational Research estimates up to three million UK jobs could disappear by 2035 due to AI and automation. 

There’s some good news, however, for construction workers. Manual jobs, such as plastering, roofing, painting and bricklaying, are more likely to escape the march of AI, according to a report by the Department for Education.  

Maximise value and minimise risk with good governance

As AI adoption in construction accelerates, some industry leaders are already thinking ahead – and not just about job security. AI can also raise ethical concerns, as highlighted by Nohman Awan, Balfour Beatty’s digital construction lead, at an industry roundtable organised by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). “Tech can add great value, but we must use it with care – be very clear on what we’re putting into AI,” he commented.

With tech evolving so fast, it can be difficult to keep up: only 7% of UK organisations using AI have fully embedded governance frameworks. These safeguards could prove critical for addressing anxiety over job security in the future and encouraging greater transparency and accountability.

Innovate to survive and thrive

AI is just one of the digital technologies that could transform how construction firms and workers operate: robotics, digital twins and predictive analytics are also being touted as key to the sector’s future.

With skills shortages, rising costs and regulatory changes putting greater pressure on construction firms, transformation will be key to future success. Nearly two-thirds of construction leaders say their organisation will not survive without innovation. 

Fergus Harradence, deputy director at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, told the ICE roundtable that he believed large consultancies had already made significant strides. However he added: “I don’t see that among contractors, let alone subcontractors… Digitalisation isn’t percolating down.”

With 85% of UK construction leaders saying legacy systems and processes are holding their organisations back, the industry is at an innovation crossroads. Although there’s no replacement for human oversight and experience, new digital technologies, such as AI, could help construction firms deliver more successful projects by increasing efficiency, safety and sustainability.