Construction’s Dystopian AI Narrative

If you have been following along in our blog series, then last week you read as we explained construction’s utopian view of technology. It is important to recognize that alongside optimism, AI (artificial intelligence) has sparked deep unease in construction, which is why for today’s blog, we are going to take a closer look at construction’s dystopian viewpoint of technology, or more specifically the concept of AI’s role in an industry that has been around for centuries.

Consider for a moment a dystopian view of technology in general in the construction industry. Critics warn of deskilled labor, algorithmic decision-making detached from jobsite reality, and an industry moving too fast to reflect on the severity of the consequences.

This dystopian narrative also has historical roots. Mechanization once raised fears of craftsmanship loss. The introduction of project-management software and BIM (building information modeling) were accused of prioritizing screens ...