Contractors scramble to incorporate AI into their operations

Large construction companies are increasingly turning to AI large language models to improve business processes and gain competitive advantage.

In fact, the success of general contractors may come down to which ones use AI best, some industry experts say. AI allows construction managers to sift through and make sense of information from hundreds of stakeholders on major projects.

Using AI effectively demands a considerable investment, though, putting pressure on smaller companies to keep up with larger peers. For this reason, a construction industry consultant quoted in a Construction Dive report says smaller construction companies that don’t have the wherewithal to make significant IT investments should consider selling out to larger firms.

Others disagree with that dire assessment. A Gilbane executive says it is still unclear if AI will become a “make-or-break tool.”

One thing seems certain: 2025 will be a year when the major players take the technology seriously and intently investigate ways to incorporate it into their businesses.