Do AI applications compromise ethics and integrity in facilities management? Insights from the UK

Background and aim: AI applications are increasingly being utilised in facilities management (FM) for functions such as operational management, energy management and maintenance management. However, a larger part of the industry would rather use contemporary methods due to ethical and integrity concerns associated with AI applications. Hence, this study attempts to answer the question: Do AI applications compromise ethics and integrity in FM? Methods: This is a qualitative study. As the research method, in-depth interviews are selected. FM professionals possessing relevant knowledge and experience in the UK have been chosen as experts. Thematic analysis has been adopted to analyse data. As this is ongoing research, preliminary findings obtained from the interview series are presented in this paper. Results: Findings reveal that ethics and integrity can be compromised if the required security measures are not implemented within the systems and strategies in FM organisations. A framework has been developed to explain ethical AI adoption in FM, recommending alignment with GDPR and ISO standards. Originality: Although several studies have been carried out exploring the use of AI applications in FM functions and have identified the issue of compromised ethics and integrity, only a few studies have focused on FM organisations and discussed FM-specific solutions. Hence, this study addresses a substantial research gap in FM. Practical or societal implications: This study will motivate FM professionals to adopt AI applications with confidence and contribute to sustainable transformation in FM.