The construction industry sees improved decision-making as the primary benefit of artificial intelligence, but the majority agree the benefits aren’t limited to one, according to data from BuiltWorlds’ 2025 Annual AI/ML Benchmarking Report.
Ninety-six percent of respondents—which primarily include GCs, with smaller shares of specialty contractors, engineers and other stakeholders weighing-in—agree that the appeal of integrating AI into construction workflows is the potential to “improve decision-making with data-driven insights.”
“By embedding intelligence into planning, coordination, and on-site execution,” the report reads, “AI can enable teams to make more informed decisions in real time while simultaneously reducing the manual effort tied to scheduling, tracking, and reporting.”
Still, while decision-making was reported as the top benefit, several other AI-powered improvements were highly touted. For instance, 93% agreed “increased efficiency through automation of repetitive tasks” could be considered a primary benefit, while 78% pointed to “strengthened competitive advantage in the market.” All-in-all, of the top 10 primary benefits of AI adoption in the AECO industry, more than half of respondents agreed with eight of them.
Where AI Is Being Implemented in AEC
As it applies to actual implementation, companies have a clear preference for AI-powered solutions.
The majority of AI adopters in AEC are currently using the technology to improve project management and oversight (67%) and preconstruction (58%)—which is in line with where AI is most prevalent and mature. Still, users reported additional applications in field management (36%), equipment and robotics (18%), and building technology (11%).
“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,” writes Audrey Lynch, director of research for BuiltWorlds and the report’s author. “These stages of a project generate vast amounts of information and involve countless repetitive workflows, making them natural entry points for AI.”
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