Construction Industry AI

Focus on Specific Pain Points to Leverage New Artificial Intelligence Tools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a buzzword in today's construction landscape. But to move beyond the talk, it will have to demonstrate clear value by addressing specific industry pain points if its immense potential is to be realized, said panelists at "Applications for AI in AEC" in September at the BuiltWorlds 2024 Toronto Summit.

Three Keys to Successful Use of AI

AI is technology. Wading through the hype to understand what it can and cannot (so far) do, knowing your professional pain points, and then identifying internal technology champions on your team, are the three keys to success when it comes to building a foundation to most effectively harness artificial intelligence (AI).

AI Primers: Intelligent Document Processing

Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) is an advanced, AI-driven approach to managing, analyzing, and extracting meaningful data from a variety of document types. From invoices and contracts to forms and, critically, unstructured files, IDP technology enables organizations to handle documents automatically and with remarkable accuracy.

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.

Legal, Data Quality Questions Hamper Foundation Model Acceleration in Construction

The limits of foundation models – legal and otherwise – to more effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to advance construction projects were in discussion at the 2024 BuiltWorlds Paris Summit earlier this year. Foundation models are hampered by legal issues surrounding who owns what data in a construction project ...

AI Primer: Robotics

Robotics is a branch of engineering and science that involves the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. Robots are machines capable of carrying out complex tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously, often mimicking or replicating human actions. How does that help construction?

Panel: AI Should Enhance, Not Replace, Human Decision-Making

Calling them “exciting and also scary times” for the construction industry and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), Michael Colapietro, CEO and co-founder, Smartapp urged attendees of a recent webinar to leverage AI to “help us reimagine” how to improve construction operations across the board. And he shares what AI really stands for.

What's Going On? AI in Construction News 10/21/24

What's going on in the News? Well, generative AI hallucinates (despite its inability to ingest mushrooms). But once the problem was recognized, technologists have been taking steps to reduce hallucinations. In generative AI, “hallucinating” means, in essence, making up sometimes-fantastic answers, like a sixth grader who didn’t read the book for their report. Or a politician. There are still some things only humans can do ...

Simtheory – An AI Smorgasbord with Powerful Features

In my quest to learn more about generative AI, I stumbled on the "This Day in AI" Podcast in which two brothers humorously discuss AI. The two are software developers who use AI in their work. They have also developed a web application called Simtheory that helps generative AI users interact productively with AI.

AI Primer: Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a valuable way. NLP enables the interaction between humans and computers through language.

Can Safety Finally Be Sexy? Maybe with AI

I’ve got a confession. Most of the time, I find a lot of what we do in safety boring. It isn’t that the work is boring. I consider myself lucky to have landed in a profession I honestly like. No, it’s just that many practices, activities, and even sometimes the language around the practice of safety can be ... mundane.

AI and the Hype Cycle – Where We Are

Humans have a tendency toward what Alan Greenspan famously called “irrational exuberance.” Coined in the dot-com era, the exuberance is back with AI. The rapid advance and general availability of generative AI, with early hands-on experiences, has once again spurred visions of a magical future automated by AI. And while various applications are underway, challenges remain.