It’s been a few years since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022 followed by multiple artificial intelligence (AI) alternatives. A major milestone for thrusting generative AI chatbots into the mainstream, this launch prompted what I would call a general “AI anxiety” for many people. Although early concepts of AI development date back to the 1950s or earlier, having basic AI tools at the fingertips of the general public suddenly felt like the start of a cultural shift. Since that time — despite fears over robots replacing humans, misinformation, privacy concerns, and a general skepticism/hesitation when it comes to the technology and its potential impact on society — AI adoption and implementation are certainly at work in most, if not all, of the country’s major industries at varying levels. The electrical industry is certainly no exception.
In the June issue, I wrote in this Industry Viewpoint about how the AI evolution is poised to transform the electrical design industry. This idea was based on the results of our annual Top 40 Electrical Design Firms survey, which revealed 43% of respondents were “already using” AI tools (when asked how long they thought it would take AI to become a viable component of electrical design work). Turn to the Top 50 Electrical Contractors survey results a few months later in September, and only 25% of respondents indicated they were “already using” the technology. However, more than three-quarters of electrical contractor respondents suggested they would be doing so “within two years.” Both Top 40 and Top 50 respondents revealed they were harnessing the power of AI tools primarily in the same two areas: optimizing processes/improving efficiency and marketing/promotions efforts.
EC&M’s survey results mirror the findings of a recent industry report, “Building the Future,” from BlueBeam, a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals worldwide. Based on a survey of architecture, engineering and construction managers, the research reveals significant investment in AI by AEC companies globally with almost three quarters (74%) reporting they’re now using AI within one or more phases of their building projects. However, 54% of those using AI expressed concerned about AI regulation — of those, 44% indicated these concerns are “having a real impact on AI implementation within their companies.” According to a press release from BlueBeam summarizing the report’s findings, AI implementation is particularly prevalent in the design and planning phases of construction. Almost half of AEC firms are using AI for design (48%) and planning (42%) specifically. Within the companies that are using AI, more than half (55%) agree that AI has become highly important, with more than 70% now allocating up to 25% of their budget to AI. This number is set to rise, given the fact that 84% plan to increase their investment in AI over the next five years.
We at EC&M will continue to investigate and cover all of the ways AI is transforming the electrical construction and maintenance industry. This month’s dedicated theme of “construction technology” topics is a testament to that promise. In this month’s issue, don’t miss some cutting-edge articles that demonstrate how the electrical industry is embracing AI in specific ways, including:
- The cover story, written by Freelancer Tim Kridel, takes a deeper dive into how AI is driving innovation through “intelligent” electrical design.
- Examining the next frontier in tool innovation, the piece written by Fluke’s Sal Paraltore answers the question every electrical professional wants to know: “How will AI make my job easier or more efficient?”
- Finally, Bob Crain of Cablofil explores why the growing need for advanced electrical infrastructure in data centers is powering the AI revolution.
As the electrical construction industry continues to face an ongoing skilled worker shortage with no real end in sight, one thing is certain. Companies who figure out how to leverage the power of AI tools to work smarter (not harder) will definitely gain a competitive advantage over their peers sooner rather than later.
