01-34 GENERALS SPRING25 PT - Flipbook - Page 23
AI is here—the construction industry
must catch up
learning journey. Those who abandon AI
after early frustrations will continue to
operate less e昀昀ectively, while others learn
to master the tool, work more e昀케ciently
and improve their results, which will in
time, help transform the industry.
However, AI mastery is not a one-time
achievement. The key to AI is continual
learning and adaptation as the technology
evolves, continually enhancing its
capabilities and incorporating new tools
at a rapid pace. The most successful
professionals won’t simply learn how
to ask AI the right questions, interpret
insights, and apply human judgment;
they will continuously re昀椀ne their skills,
remaining agile as AI further expands
what is possible.
still needs to decide how to mitigate
the risk. AI can analyze thousands of
safety reports, but a site supervisor must
determine how to implement proactive
safety measures.
The future of construction will be
shaped by those who embrace AI as an
advisor—not a replacement—to improve
decision-making.
AI already guides daily decisions—
powering navigation apps, voice
assistants, predictive text, and fraud
detection. Now, it’s reshaping how
construction professionals work
and make critical choices. From risk
management and safety analysis, to
scheduling optimization, AI is already
proving its value in the industry.
Many hesitate to adopt AI, not because
they doubt its power, but because it
challenges the way they’ve always
worked. The real challenge isn’t in the
technology itself—it’s in how people
embrace new ways of thinking.
As AI reshapes the construction industry, professionals need new skills that
teach them how to leverage it as a strategic
asset. As with any major industry shift,
those who adapt will survive and those
who adapt sooner, will thrive. The most
successful contractors, developers, and
engineers won’t just react to change—
they will shape it. The 昀椀rms that embrace
AI now—investing in both technology and
workforce development—will be the ones
de昀椀ning the future of construction.
In an industry focused on risk
management, those who ignore AI
do so at their own peril. AI is not an
existential threat—it’s an opportunity
to transform the way we do business and
gain a competitive advantage. We need to
embrace it and lead the way.
AI is lighting the way to the future. Now,
it’s time to adapt—or be left in the dark.
Getty Images
The future of work in construction:
The role of ai in critical thinking
Construction is built on certainty— a
beam must hold a certain weight, a
foundation must be level, etc. but AI
operates in probabilities. It identi昀椀es
trends, forecasts delays, and suggests
enhancements, but it cannot (and should
not) make the 昀椀nal call. That’s where
human expertise and critical thinking
remain irreplaceable.
AI can tell you the likelihood of a delay
based on weather forecasts and supply
chain disruptions, but a project manager
THEGENERALS.NET
SPRING 2025 • the generals 23