Construction’s Utopian AI Moment

Every major technological shift arrives wrapped in big promises—and big fears. AI (artificial intelligence) is no different. Today, AI is often framed as either the construction industry’s ultimate problem-solver or a looming threat to jobs, safety, and human judgment, which is why we are kicking off the new year with a new blog series looking at both utopian and dystopian views of technology. History suggests we should pause before embracing either extreme, which is exactly where we stand at this moment in time.

It’s no surprise, we have been here before. Electricity transformed construction by refining workdays, improving safety, and enabling new building methods. The internet later reshaped how projects are designed, bid, and managed, connecting architects, engineers, contractors, and owners across geographies. In each case, early adopters saw possibility before the rest of the industry caught up.

Construction has always evolved through transformative tools. Reinforced concrete ...