The potential of AI to boost productivity in the construction industry is being wasted by a lack of literacy training to staff and policies governing the use of the technology, the AI Institute has warned
Its new survey, AI in the Built Environment, found that more than four out of five (81%) professionals reported having only basic or moderate AI knowledge, while almost half (46%) said a lack of formal training is preventing them from fully utilising potentially transformative technologies.
Meanwhile, just one in five firms have identified processes that could be automated using specialist AI solutions.
Industry professionals also reported that data is fragmented and siloed across disparate workflows, making it difficult to deploy effective customised AI tools.
“Doomed to fail”
The institute said companies making large investments in AI without first building a base of knowledge is an approach that is “doomed to fail”.
Global firms remain mired in indecision at the leadership level, with many found to have invested too early – without the requisite AI policy, change management or training strategy in place – too late, or not at all, it added.
Some firms reported a cultural resistance to new technology, with SMEs particularly reluctant to spend on digital technologies – this despite being well-placed to benefit due to their size and agility.
“Shadow use” of AI tools putting data at risk
The report warns that the lack of training and policies around AI is leading to the informal or unauthorised “shadow use” of AI tools, which puts construction firms at risk of data breaches or other cybersecurity threats.
The AI Institute is urging construction companies to reform their practices from the bottom up, beginning with the creation of formal AI policies around which tools to use, how to keep data safe and what licences are needed.
Staff should also receive mandatory AI literacy training to understand the basics of AI.
This would lay the foundations for firms to identify processes and tasks that can be automated using AI, providing time and space for companies to begin organising and standardising their data to further progress their transformation journey.
Adopting AI in the correct way would lift productivity growth in the construction industry above its current annual rate of 1%, putting it in line with the 2.8% annual growth rate for the global economy, according to the report.
Maryrose Lyons, founder of the AI Institute, said: “While several larger firms have made significant investments in AI, the impact of these investments has been limited by the lack of foundational knowledge and support in the form of AI policies and training. To be successful, company leaders must build their AI strategy from the bottom up, laying the groundwork to ensure that bigger AI investments will be effective later.
“Our survey reveals that the use of commercial LLMs (large language models) is widespread across the sector. Unfortunately, such practices can breach compliance with data regulations and make sensitive client data more vulnerable if there is not adequate training. That’s why the AI Institute is urging firms across the construction industry to invest in AI literacy training for all staff, introduce AI policies that ensure compliance, and move beyond commercial LLMs like ChatGPT by investing in customised AI solutions developed exclusively to solve in-house problems.”
The AI Institute is a Dublin-based company offering AI training, strategic advice, and solutions support with implementing AI tools.
The post AI potential “being wasted” in construction appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
