AI in construction: Empowering humans, not replacing them

In the construction sector, the robots aren’t coming for our jobs but, rather helpfully, they’re coming for our paperwork.

As generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) sweeps through construction like a digital tornado, the question isn’t whether this transformative technology will change our industry, but whether we can exploit its power without diminishing the indispensable human brilliance that creates truly remarkable buildings.

As Innovation Director at NBS, I see first-hand how AI is already reshaping construction, not by replacing people, as many media commentators often fearfully predict (at least in our industry), but as our liberator from the mundane, freeing us to do what machines cannot. Construction needs the skills of architects, engineers and technologists working together harmoniously, and the industry needs those skills directed where they will bring the most value. And AI can help.

As we know, ATs sit at the heart of where design, engineering, science and innovation all meet. Chartered Architectural Technologists are uniquely skilled at bridging concept and realisation, with an indispensable skill set for ensuring newly built projects are sustainably constructed, and that existing ones are suitably retrofitted or efficiently maintained. ATs thrive on solving complex problems, collaborating with architects, engineers, manufacturers, and contractors to deliver better buildings. But let’s be honest: a portion of an AT’s daily schedule can involve technical, repetitive tasks; writing specifications, checking compliance, managing data, and documenting every detail. These duties are essential, but they can be time-consuming and, over time, demoralising. This is where AI comes into its own.

There’s a misconception that AI is here to replace skilled individuals. In reality, the most successful applications in construction are collaborative, involving human plus machine. Used well, AI is a tool that supports, not supplants, the deep expertise of built environment professionals.

Think of AI as an industrious assistant: it never gets tired, it handles vast amounts of information, and it is excellent at spotting patterns or errors that might slip through even the most experienced human eye. But it lacks the creative spark, the contextual understanding, ethical judgement and the genuine motivation that trained and seasoned professionals can bring.

The soon-to-be-released NBS 2025 Digital Construction Report found that 42.5% of respondents are already using AI tools and an additional 37.7% plan to implement them within the next five years. Looking at those planning implementation, nearly one in five respondents (19%) plan to begin using AI within the next year, while 14.8% anticipate adoption within three years and 3.9% within five years. It seems adoption is growing across the board, with this trend supported by last year’s survey UK architects and students in the Architects’ Journal which found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents are already using AI in some form.

According to our recent survey, the most common AI-assisted applications are technical information search (71.1%), text drafting and review (63.8%) and data analysis (61.8%). Early adopters report clear gains in productivity and quality, fewer human errors, faster delivery, and better project outcomes. Crucially, they are not seeing jobs disappear, but seeing them evolve.

Let’s look at the work we’re doing at NBS with AI. Two key workflows are emerging. First, we rapidly process large volumes of technical information, such as manufacturer product data. We are looking to auto-classify and structure it according to our standardised schemas. Technical colleagues then apply their expertise to review and verify this content before publication. We will maintain our quality levels, but manage to process data much more efficiently. Second, our consultancy team are already using AI to quality-check specifications prior to publication, validating cross-references, overall quality, and editorial compliance with company guidelines to ensure more robust and accurate final outputs. Again, this reduces the manual repetitive tasks and allows our colleagues to focus on providing more value and being more efficient.

AI handles the admin-heavy groundwork, flagging compliance issues, suggesting improvements, and ensuring consistency. The professional remains firmly in control, making the critical decisions and tailoring the specification to the unique needs of each project. And the result? Fewer human errors, faster delivery, and more time for the work only humans can do: design thinking, creative problem solving, and building relationships with clients and forging deepening creative partnerships.

When AI takes care of the repetitive and the routine, it frees skilled professionals to focus on what really matters: creating buildings that are not only functional and beautiful, but sustainable and future-proof. Sustainability and circularity are top priorities, as the Green Building Council maintains that 25% of UK emissions are directly attributable to the built environment. AI can help ATs address these issues by rapidly analysing product data, checking for compliance with environmental standards, and even modelling the lifecycle impacts of different design choices. But it’s the human professional who sets the vision, weighs up the trade-offs, and ensures that sustainability is embedded in a project from concept to completion.

It is natural to have concerns about any disruptive technology. Some worry that AI could commoditise design, or that automation might erode professional judgement. But the NBS 2025 Digital Construction. Report finds that a significant majority of survey respondents (85%) agree that AI will have a positive impact on the construction industry, while 88.8% believe it will increase productivity. When asked about anticipated changes over the next two to three years, 88.8% of respondents expect AI will bring either significant or transformative change to their work.

Perhaps it’s already a cliché, but it’s important to see AI for what it really is. It’s an enabler, a tool that can help us deliver better outcomes for clients, reduce errors and rework, and ultimately help our profession and industry raise the standard of the built environment. But it’s not a substitute for the skills, values and experience that define our profession.

The future of construction is not human versus machine; it’s human plus machine, working together. AI will continue to evolve, taking on more of the technical and administrative load, but the heart of our industry will always be human. Our creativity, our judgement, our commitment to quality and sustainability – these are irreplaceable.

As we continue to explore AI, let us do so with confidence and curiosity. Let us use it to amplify our strengths, streamline our processes, and create space for the work that truly matters. Ever-advancing technology will play its part in shaping the buildings of tomorrow, but those same buildings will always be defined by applying the vision and skills of dedicated people.

This article appears in the AT Journal issue 156 Winter 2025 as "AI in construction: Empowering humans, not replacing them" and was written by Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director, NBS.

--CIAT