The digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) in construction presents both enormous potential and pressing challenges, according to a new global report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The AI in Construction 2025 report, based on responses from more than 2,200 professionals worldwide, found:
- Adoption remains low — 45 percent of organizations reported no AI use, with just 1 percent having scaled AI across projects.
- Optimism is high — Nearly 70 percent of project managers and quantity surveyors believe AI will help them deliver greater value.
- Barriers are real — Lack of skilled personnel (46 percent), poor data quality (30 percent), and system integration challenges (37 percent) hold back adoption.
- Design optioneering is the leading frontier — 40 percent expect AI to have its biggest impact in shaping smarter, faster project design over the next five years.
- Investment is rising but uneven — A quarter of firms plan to increase AI spending in the next 12 months, but 28 percent have no plans and 22 percent 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.
The report also highlights strong optimism around AI’s role in scheduling, risk management, and cost control. RICS warned that overlooking these critical areas could be a missed opportunity and called for industry, government, and professional bodies to collaborate on clear roadmaps, ethical guardrails, and upskilling initiatives.
Maureen Ehrenberg, Acting President-Elect at RICS, said, “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. The challenge now is to ensure AI is adopted responsibly, ethically, and in ways that deliver real public good.”
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Anil Sawhney, Head of Sustainability at RICS, added, “RICS’ AI in Construction 2025 report reveals that the construction sector is at a tipping point. To achieve tangible progress, our sector must focus on high-quality data, compelling value propositions, organizational readiness, and strong leadership to champion the responsible use of AI.”
Graphics courtesy of RCIS
