Construction leaders back AI, but adoption remains limited

An excavator hologram image, generated by AI. Image: Adobe Stock

The inaugural ‘Construction Intelligence’ study, said to be based on responses from around 1,000 leaders in construction and real estate, found that while nearly 60% believe the industry is keeping pace with digital transformation, 65% say their companies have not adopted AI or predictive analytics tools for planning or decision-making.

The report also revealed that 53% of respondents identified material costs as a major factor impacting timelines and budgets and that only 20% felt highly confident in their organisation’s ability to mitigate project delays. It also showed that 47% said current forecasting and budgeting tools fail to deliver accurate estimates and just 13% are extremely likely to invest in AI solutions in the next two years.

Slate CEO Trevor Schick said the research was intended to drive conversation around technology adoption. “Unlocking greater efficiency through technology isn’t just a competitive advantage – it’s a necessity,” he said.

Slate, which develops AI-driven predictive tools for the construction sector, said the findings highlight an ongoing disconnect between industry optimism and on-the-ground implementation. The company has positioned its Construction Intelligence Platform as a response to growing demand for real-time, AI-powered planning and cost forecasting.

Senthil M Kumar, CTO of Slate Technologies, added that while demand for digital transformation is high, AI adoption remains, “trapped between aspiration, transformation readiness and execution.”