AI is reshaping construction—early adopters surge ahead, others risk falling behind.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the construction sector across Asia-Pacific, but not all players are keeping pace. While nearly 70% of project managers and quantity surveyors see AI as a way to deliver greater value, the industry remains at the threshold of transformation rather than fully immersed in it.

The real challenge isn’t access to technology—it’s the readiness of the environment in which it operates. Poor data quality is the most cited barrier, with 30% of professionals pointing to it as the key obstacle. Companies that treat data as a core infrastructure—structured, clean, and machine-ready—are already compounding value, while those that don’t are finding AI tools stalling before they deliver results.

The design stage is where the biggest impact lies. As Kurt Brissett, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Built, explains: “80% of time and budget overruns trace back to decisions made in the design phase. If you can make that phase as data-driven and collaborative as possible, you set every project up for success.” AI-assisted design doesn’t just improve drawings—it strengthens every decision downstream.

Adoption is accelerating, but unevenly. Around 40% of industry respondents believe AI will drive smarter design in the next five years. Interestingly, the organizations best positioned to capture this value aren’t necessarily the largest—they’re the ones that got their data foundations right first. 

Source: 

1. 2025 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors global survey on AI adoption in construction.

2. Commentary from Kurt Brissett, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Built