Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) Take over the Construction World? - A Multidisciplinary Exploration

The late Stephen Hawking was reported to have said, “Computers will overtake humans with AI within the next 100 years. When that happens, we need to make sure the computers have goals aligned with ours.” This statement is frightening to most, as very few people may like the idea of seeing computers take over the world. However, what can be more frightening is for those few people who like the idea to also make use of Hawking’s suggestion and find a way to make sure the computers have goals that are strictly aligned with only theirs. There is a distinguishable apprehension among people of the role AI is set to play in the future of humanity, and this apprehension is transcending disciplinary boundaries. In the particular fields related to construction, there seems to be a genuine interest in integrating AI in each phase of a project to improve quality, enhance safety, and reduce costs, but this interest is countered by a legitimate concern that many types of jobs would be lost to AI-enhanced machines. In this paper, the authors tried to shed some light on how AI might change the face of the construction industry. The authors, spanning generations and disciplines in the industry, tried to answer the question “will AI take over the construction industry?” each from their own perspective including architectural, structural, and construction management. A synopsis of the status of the application of AI in construction and related fields is first provided, and then the authors offer their individual views with respect to how they expect AI to affect their side of the industry. This paper is an effort to gain insights into the perceptions of current and future construction related professionals of the role of AI and the impact it may have on the industry. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Budapest University of Technology and Economics & Diamond Congress Ltd Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of the Creative Construction Conference 2020.