What AI will actually do to your career
Watch the episode on YouTube right here!
AI is no longer just a buzzword.
It’s here, it’s real, and it’s changing the landscape of every industry. As automation tools and intelligent systems become more capable, professionals across architecture, engineering and construction are beginning to wonder:
“What does this mean for my job?”
We created a podcast episode, ”What AI will actually do to your career,” featuring James Garner, Global Head of Data, Insights & Analytics at Gleeds. Join us when we discuss the role of AI in your future career.
We won’t predict doom or promise a utopia.
We will explore the actual changes AI will bring to construction careers.
From quantity surveyors and project managers to site engineers, and information managers, we unpack how the shift toward AI-driven workflows might alter roles, expectations, and the skills required to stay relevant.
Right now, there’s a common narrative that AI will replace people.
In construction, the picture is more complex.
Many of the tasks performed in the industry are highly contextual, human-centric, and dependent on experience and collaboration.
AI is powerful, but it’s not a magic button.
Do you want to know more?
In the following article, we’ll discuss:
- How AI can become a teammate – not a competitor.
- The new “must-have”
- Curiosity will help you rethink your role
Let’s get started!
How AI can become a teammate – not a competitor
AI won’t be your enemy.
What it will do is take over repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Tasks like tracking progress, compiling reports, or managing change orders. That frees up professionals to focus on higher-value work.
Work such as strategic thinking, creative problem solving and people management.
More specifically, AI can help you:
· Automate project tracking and updates.
· Identify risks before they escalate.
· Manage vast amounts of project data in real time.
For project managers, this means fewer late nights chasing status updates.
For quantity surveyors, it means smarter, faster estimations.
For architects, it means more time to design and less time compiling compliance documentation.
Despite the rise of smart technology, construction remains a people-first business. Site dynamics, negotiations, leadership, creativity—these can’t be automated.
AI can provide the data, but humans still need to make the judgment calls.
The new ”must-have”
AI doesn’t eliminate the need for people—it changes what people need to know.
One important point is that people with deep domain knowledge will become even more valuable, not less.
Why?
Because they know what questions to ask, how to interpret AI outputs, and how to make decisions when the data is incomplete.
The new “must-have” is the understanding of how to communicate with AI tools. Concerning:
· Prompts
· Inputs
· Data structures
Technical skills like BIM and data literacy are becoming just as essential as traditional construction knowledge. We’re moving toward an industry where those who can bridge the gap between human experience and machine efficiency, will lead the way.
No, you don’t need to become a programmer.
Yes, being AI-curious and adaptable is key.
Curiosity will help you rethink your role
The worst thing anyone can do right now, is stick their head in the sand.
AI is moving fast, and it rewards those who experiment, learn, and adapt.
Not sure where to start?
Try using AI to plan your week. Or summarize your meeting notes. Or explore how AI is being used on job sites.
Instead of asking: “Will AI take my job?” Start asking: “How can I use AI to do my job better?”
So, let’s summarize some key points for you who are working in the construction industry:
1. Now is the time to rethink your role—not out of fear, but out of curiosity.
2. AI isn’t here to erase your career – it’s here to reshape it.
3. Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s also full of opportunities.
Start having these conversations about AI, and how it can change your day-to-day work.
Have you experimented with it yet?