Using Generative AI In Construction

OpenAI's o1: When To Use It and When Not

When they first came out, OpenAI's o1 mini and o1 preview were slow and provided unnecessarily long responses. They were, in a word – annoying. Since the initial release, things have changed, and we now have access to the full o1 model (no longer in preview) and even an O1 Pro model. So what does o1 do well?

ChatGPT Canvas: Safety Documentation Creation with Real-Time AI Editing

One of the pitfalls of working with generative AI chatbots is the need to continuously navigate back and forth between the chat interface and a document you are working on. However, ChatGPT’s canvas feature lets you interact with and edit documents in real-time.

GPT-4o Image Query and Analysis - A Video Demonstration

In construction management, keeping pace with technological advancements is crucial for achieving efficiency and excellence. Recently, there has been a focus on exploring the capabilities of GPT-4o, utilizing its advanced features to analyze construction sites and optimize project planning with precision. Utilizing GPT-4o's image analysis feature, I captured a snapshot of a building under construction and demonstrate GTP-4o's capabilities.

The Evolution of AI Safety Advice: From Risky to Reliable?

In mid-2023, researchers published a study in Safety Science that examined ChatGPT's (3.5) ability to provide safety advice. The study found numerous issues with the model's responses, including contradictory advice, impractical recommendations, and potentially harmful guidance across nine safety domains. The landscape of AI capabilities has changed dramatically since the publication of that study, so I tested newer models ...

Better AI Prompts for Construction Health and Safety

Throughout several articles, we have yet to devote many words to the topic of prompting. However, crafting good prompts leads to better output from generative AI. So, let's cover some basic prompting techniques that will help anyone using generative AI get better results.

AI: Automation Versus Augmentation

At a talk on artificial intelligence in a recent safety conference, my excitement turned to disappointment when the speaker promoted a camera system with basic AI functionality—tracking hardhat compliance and flagging puddles. I'd hoped to hear about how generative AI is revolutionizing construction work at a fundamental level. Our industry is still grappling with meaningfully implementing AI technology.

Streamline Construction Safety with Google’s Notebook LM

Google recently introduced Notebook LM, which it calls an AI collaborator. The notebook was created with assistance from writer Steven Johnson, who wanted a digital Notebook to track ideas, quotes and thoughts ultimately helpful for writing projects. It’s ... an AI agent that you can load with multiple information sources.

OpenAI's o1 Models: A New Era in AI Reasoning for Construction Safety?

For those who follow Artificial Intelligence news, the release of a new model from OpenAI has been a long time coming. Rumours about OpenAI’s “Strawberry” model have been stirring for months, and finally, paid users have access to two new models: o1-mini and o1 preview.

Streamlining Subcontractor Management: AI Projects for Intelligent Construction Oversight

The intricate relationships between general contractors and their subcontractors influence each of the pillars of construction management—schedule, safety, and quality. While subcontractors bring invaluable specialized knowledge and expertise to a project, they also introduce layers of complexity in coordination, contractual obligations, and liability.

Contextualized Learning in Construction: Leveraging Claude 3.5 Sonnet for Interactive Safety Apps

It is a struggle to find engaging ways to communicate important messages to people across different technical understandings and aptitudes. A technical document with facts and figures understandable to an engineer might cause the eyes of an ironworker to glaze over. Conversely, a jargon-heavy document discernible by a qualified tradesperson could readily baffle a young project manager. AI can help.

The Future of AI Collaboration: Claude 3.5's Projects in Action

This article follows Dunham's piece on the recently released Claude-3.5. Here David discusses Claude’s “Projects” feature and one way he's used it to add efficiency to some of his safety-related tasks. You can use it to save time on a wide range of text- and document-generation tasks.

Understanding Visual AI: A Technical Overview

Visual Artificial Intelligence (Visual AI) is a subset of artificial intelligence focused on enabling machines to interpret and understand visual information from the world, mimicking the human ability to see and process images.

Using Generative AI: ChatGPT & Claude