AI-driven robotics and the human future of construction
8th September 2025
Tomas Hollingsworth, Director of Technology at BW: Workplace Experts shares insights on AI-driven robotics in construction.
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-driven robotics, in conjunction with increasingly more cost effective and varied technology options being made available, is opening doors for firms of all sizes in the construction sector to tap into its potential. This is excellent news for a sector that needs innovation and digital transformation more than ever to address skills shortages, speed up programme delivery, and deliver cost certainty.
Transformative potential
The benefits of AI and AI-driven robotics are many, and not limited to the design stage or administrative processes. For instance, robots equipped with cameras, LiDAR, and other sensors can autonomously capture site progress, perform repeatable inspections, and access hazardous or confined spaces without risk to human health. AI allows them to adapt in real time too, finding new routes when access is blocked or recognising changes in site conditions.
Perhaps the most transformative potential of AI in construction lies in predictive capability. By combining live site data with AI analytics, we can anticipate risks from safety hazards to equipment failures, before they occur. In preventative maintenance, for example, AI can recognise patterns that precede a breakdown and trigger repairs before disruption strikes. In programme management, early warning of supply chain delays could allow schedules to be adjusted and materials re-sourced proactively. The goal is not simply to react faster, but to operate in a state of continual foresight.
With such a clear value proposition, is this leading to widespread adoption of AI and AI-driven robotics?
Technology adoption
According to one survey only around half of architecture, engineering and construction companies asked (48%) use AI at design stage, just over a quarter at construction stage (27%) and around one-in-five at the operation and maintenance stage (21%). When it comes to robotics, the UK ranks 24th globally ranking in industrial robot density, lagging behind other G7 nations, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
The major hurdles beyond the upfront cost and ongoing hardware and software updates is a very human one. For AI and AI-driven robotics to succeed it is trust that will determine adoption.
Trust in systems, trust in people
For AI and AI-driven robotics to succeed in construction, human trust in these systems is essential. Equally important is trusting people to interpret AI insights wisely and act responsibly on the information these systems provide. This all requires training, transparency, and a culture where human expertise remains central. AI can flag a hazard or identify a measurement discrepancy, but it is people who decide how to act on that information.The narrative around robots replacing jobs is also persistent and damaging. In reality, the sector’s greatest opportunity lies in redefining roles to maximise skillsets and boost productivity. Automating repetitive, hazardous, or time-intensive tasks can free people’s time for more complex, strategic and judgement-based work.
At BW: Workplace Experts, technology is not replacing people but empowering them with intelligent tools needed to deliver better outcomes. For two-years we have been undergoing digital transformation by actively exploring and integrating AI into workflows, with an AI working group dedicated to its ongoing optimisation and development. It is worth noting that with no universal standard for AI technology and its use in construction, what is acceptable in one firm may not be in another. This is where ongoing industry collaboration and the development of a shared set of principles to protect the integrity of the profession, the safety of people on site, and the trust of clients, could support better integration and uptake of AI and AI-driven robotics.
Looking ahead: Agentic AI and accelerated innovation
Unlike traditional AI, Agentic AI agents can think, plan, remember, and learn from experience. In construction, as such systems continue to develop, this could assist in generating design options, running compliance checks, or optimising logistics – compressing processes that once took weeks into hours Coupled with physical robotics, this could create an end-to-end digital partner: gathering data, analysing it, and proposing or even initiating solutions in real time.
Many AI-driven robots are also currently designed to resemble people or animals, partly to make them more familiar. The next wave of robotics may look entirely different however, and be purpose-built for specific construction tasks rather than designed to mirror a recogniseable form. This functional design freedom, combined with AI’s ability to optimise for efficiency, could lead to tools we can’t yet imagine.
A human-centred transformation
As AI-driven robotics continue to evolve, its success will depend not just on technology itself, but on how we integrate it with human expertise, foster trust, and reimagine roles to unlock greater productivity and safety. By embracing a human-centred approach, investing in skills, and collaborating on shared standards, the industry can harness AI and robotics as partners in shaping a more resilient future for construction.
Originally published on Build in Digital.
