(Photo: © Sergey Nivens / Adobe Stock)
Globally, 45 per cent of organizations in the construction space report no use of artificial intelligence (AI), and just one per cent report having scaled AI across projects, according to a recent research report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The AI in Construction 2025 report, which is based on responses from more than 2,200 professionals worldwide, reveals both the enormous potential and pressing challenges facing the sector as the construction industry stands on the brink of a digital transformation.
Despite the low adoption rate, optimism about the technology remains high. Nearly 70 per cent of project managers and quantity surveyors believe AI will help them deliver greater value, with 40 per cent expecting AI to have its biggest impact in shaping smarter, faster project design over the next five years.
The barriers are real, however. Almost half of those surveyed cited a lack of skilled personnel, more than a third cited system integration challenges, and 30 per cent listed poor data quality as reasons adoption has been slow.
Many companies are investing in the technology, with a quarter of surveyed firms planning to increase AI spending in the next 12 months, but that commitment is not consistent across the industry. Some 28 per cent of survey respondents indicated no plans to spend on AI, and 22 per cent remain unsure.
The report warns of a widening gap between investment ambition and organizational readiness. Many firms are preparing to spend on AI despite widespread skills shortages, raising concerns about whether investments will deliver real value. While the research indicates strong optimism around AI’s role in scheduling, risk management and cost control, RICS has been calling for industry, government and professional bodies to collaborate on clear roadmaps, ethical guardrails and upskilling initiatives.
“This timely report provides a valuable global snapshot of how professionals across the built environment are thinking about AI; where they see potential, what’s holding them back, and how prepared they feel,” stated Maureen Ehrenberg, acting president-elect at RICS. “The challenge now is to ensure AI is adopted responsibly, ethically and in ways that deliver real public good.”
“The construction sector is at a tipping point,” added Anil Sawhney, head of sustainability at RICS. “Despite the hype in the media, over 2,200 global responses to our Global Construction Monitor survey reveal low adoption with a growing confidence in AI’s potential. To achieve tangible progress, our sector must focus on high-quality data, compelling value propositions, organisational readiness and strong leadership to champion the responsible use of AI.”
