AI in Construction: The Rise of the Chatbots

I don’t think it’s unique to our industry that AI is becoming omnipresent. According to?Research Dive, AI startups for construction will earn $8 billion in revenue by 2031. Having lived through the explosion of the Internet and its value in real estate and business at the start of my career and then years later watching the impact social media had, I can say from experience this is proving to be a significantly more impactful technology. This, as they say, is going to change everything.

AI CHATBOTS

What I’m already seeing in place and in active use in the marketplace are AI-powered chatbots. They’ve already emerged as powerful tools in the industry, helping companies streamline processes and improve internal communication. Here are a few implementations that I've personally found interesting:

• Skanska has developed Sidekick, an AI chatbot built using OpenAI’s ChatGPT for internal use. Sidekick answers questions based on Skanska’s proprietary data stored in a private cloud, helping employees make informed decisions based on real-time insights.
• 世邦魏理仕 utilizes Ellis AI, a chatbot designed to improve property management and real estate services. While primarily focused on real estate rather than construction itself, Ellis streamlines tenant inquiries, lease administration, and customer service interactions, showcasing how AI can support the broader real estate and built environment sectors.
• Gilbane Building Company has integrated TrunkText, a platform by Trunk Tools, to track over 21,000 spec and contract documents for their Baird Center Expansion Project. This AI-powered solution helps manage large-scale documentation with ease and efficiency.
• Balfour Beatty US is developing StoaOne, a Microsoft-powered generative AI assistant. By leveraging large language models (LLMs), StoaOne provides employees with access to the company’s documented knowledge base, incorporating over 8,000 documents to improve decision-making on builds.
• While not a construction company, but an Owner, 塔吉特百货 has introduced Store Companion, a generative AI-powered chatbot designed to assist store team members. Launched in June 2024, it aims to streamline operations by providing immediate answers to on-the-job process questions, coaching new team members, and supporting store management. It doesn't seem surprising to learn it's had a positive reception at the company. It's not hard to imagine how something like this could be of value at any company.

As more companies adopt AI-driven solutions, we’ll likely see even more innovative applications emerge—ones that could redefine how we approach both construction and real estate. What’s clear is that AI, particularly in the form of chatbots, is not just a passing trend but a technology poised to reshape our industry in ways we’re just beginning to understand. The future of AI in construction is unfolding, and it’s something we’ll all need to keep an eye on as it continues to evolve.