AI’s Biggest Payoff in Construction: Better Decisions, Backed by Data
Key Highlights
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Decision-making leads AI adoption: Contractors value real-time, data-backed insights over novelty or experimentation
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Preconstruction and project management dominate: AI is being applied first where data volume and workflow repetition are highest
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Efficiency drives ROI: Automation and reduced manual effort remain critical factors in competitive advantage
CHICAGO, IL — Improved decision-making is the leading reason construction professionals are adopting artificial intelligence, according to findings from BuiltWorlds’ 2025 Annual AI/ML Benchmarking Report. Nearly all respondents—96%—identified data-driven insights as the primary benefit of integrating AI into construction workflows.
Survey respondents were primarily general contractors, with additional input from specialty contractors, engineers, and other industry stakeholders. The results suggest AI is increasingly viewed as a practical tool for daily operations, not just an emerging technology experiment.
“By embedding intelligence into planning, coordination, and on-site execution,” the report states, “AI can enable teams to make more informed decisions in real time while simultaneously reducing the manual effort tied to scheduling, tracking, and reporting.”
Efficiency and Competitive Advantage Also Rank High
While improved decision-making topped the list, contractors pointed to several additional benefits driving AI adoption. Ninety-three percent of respondents cited increased efficiency through automation of repetitive tasks as a primary advantage, while 78% said AI strengthens competitive positioning in the market.
Overall, more than half of respondents agreed with eight out of the top 10 identified benefits of AI adoption in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry, underscoring broad confidence in the technology’s impact on business performance.
Where Contractors Are Putting AI to Work
AI adoption is currently concentrated in areas where construction firms manage large volumes of data and repeatable workflows. Sixty-seven percent of respondents reported using AI to support project management and oversight, while 58% are applying it during preconstruction activities.
Additional use cases include field management (36%), equipment and robotics (18%), and building technology (11%), signaling early expansion beyond office-based applications and into jobsite operations.
“The areas where AI is most commonly applied in AEC, project management and oversight, preconstruction, and field management, closely reflect the core benefits stakeholders see from the technology,” said Audrey Lynch, Director of Research for BuiltWorlds and author of the report. “These stages of a project generate vast amounts of information and involve countless repetitive workflows, making them natural entry points for AI.”
To learn more visit builtworlds.com.