It’s been a few years since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022, followed by multiple artificial intelligence (AI) alternatives. This launch was a major milestone for pushing AI-generating chatbots into the mainstream, and it led to what I would call “general AI anxiety” in many people. Although early concepts of AI development date back to the 1950s or earlier, having basic AI tools within the reach of the general public suddenly seemed like the beginning of a cultural shift. Since that time – despite fears of robots replacing humans, misinformation, privacy concerns, and general skepticism/hesitation when it comes to the technology and its potential impact on society – AI adoption and implementation has certainly worked in most, if not all, The country’s main industries are at different levels. The electrical industry is certainly no exception.
In the June issue, I wrote in this industry perspective on how the evolution of AI 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 that 43% of respondents were “already using” AI tools (when asked how long they thought it would take for AI to become a viable component of their electrical design business). Turning to the results of the Top 50 Electrical Contractors survey a few months later in September, where only 25% of respondents indicated they were actually “using” the technology. However, more than three-quarters of electrical contractor respondents indicated they would do so “within two years.” Both the top 40 and 50 participants revealed that they are harnessing the power of AI tools primarily in the same two areas: process improvement/efficiency improvement and marketing/promotions efforts.
The EC&M survey results reflect the findings of a recent “Building the Future” industry report from BlueBeam, a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals around the world. Based on a survey of architecture, engineering and construction managers, the research reveals significant investment in AI by AEC firms globally, with nearly three-quarters (74%) reporting that they are now using AI at one or more stages of construction projects Their own. However, 54% of AI users expressed concerns about AI regulation – and of those, 44% indicated that these concerns “have a real impact on AI implementation within their companies.” According to a BlueBeam press release summarizing the report’s findings, the application of AI is particularly prevalent in the design and planning stages of construction. Nearly half of AEC companies use AI in design (48%) and planning (42%) specifically. In companies using AI, more than half (55%) agree that AI has become very important, with more than 70% now allocating up to 25% of their budget to AI. This number is expected to rise, given that 84% of them plan to increase their investments in artificial intelligence over the next five years.
At EC&M, we will continue to investigate and cover all the ways AI is transforming the electrical construction and maintenance industry. This month’s theme of “Construction Technology” is a testament to this promise. In this month’s issue, don’t miss some cutting-edge articles that show how the electrical industry is embracing AI in specific ways, including:
The cover story, written by freelancer Tim Criddle, dives deeper into how AI is driving innovation through “smart” electrical design. By examining the next frontiers in tool innovation, the article by Sal Paraltor of Fluke answers the question every electrician wants to know: “How will AI make my job easier or more efficient?” Finally, Kablovel’s Bob Crane explores why the growing need for advanced electrical infrastructure in data centers is fueling the AI revolution.
As the electrical construction industry continues to face a persistent shortage of skilled workers with no real end in sight, one thing is certain. Companies that figure out how to harness the power of AI tools to work smarter (not harder) will certainly gain a competitive advantage over their peers sooner rather than later.
