Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Construction: Applications and Implications for Project Management

Artificial intelligence (AI) is entering virtually every industry, transforming operations and decision-making processes. Though the construction sector has traditionally been slower in adopting such technologies, it is now experiencing a surge in AI integration. Companies are only just beginning to recognize the potential benefits of AI in project management, resource allocation, risk assessment, and overall operational efficiency. However, despite this trend, there remains a gap in the research explicitly focusing on using AI tools within the construction industry in the United States (US). This paper aims to address that gap by reviewing the current relevant literature on AI adoption in construction and analyzing the implementation of these types of technologies by construction managers (CMs) across the country. Additionally, a number of employees from US construction companies were surveyed to gain further insights into how AI is currently utilized within the industry, providing a comprehensive understanding of adoption trends and practical applications. The analysis has shown that 60% of employees swiftly adopted AI tools for their project responsibilities. The top three areas where AI applications were used most frequently in the industry were found to be ‘data analytics and reporting’, followed by ‘machine learning models’ and ‘AI-based project management software’.