AI CHATBOTS:

SCRIPTING A NEW NARRATIVE?

What is the extent of influence of AI-generated content on the HVACR industry?

Indu Revikumar, Features Writer, Climate Control Middle East, has the story…

ROBERT Davies, Operations Director for Advisory Services, WSP Middle East, sits down to compose an 800-word article on ‘How feasible is net-zero?’ The topic is relevant to his business but not within his expertise. So, he takes advantage of Copymatic, an Artificial Intelligence-powered platform, to accomplish the task. Within 30 seconds, Copymatic has produced a wellorganised piece with relevant information, a captivating introduction and suitable sub-headings. To avoid plagiarism, he paraphrases the article using QuillBot, another AI-based tool, before sharing it with a colleague with extensive experience on the topic. His colleague, who leads the Department of Earth and Environment, takes about 15 minutes to review the article, and together, they write an expert piece in the shortest time possible, which otherwise would have taken at least a couple of hours of investigation and writing.

Although he found the experience phenomenal, Davies hasn’t explored these tools much ever since. However, he is keen on how AI-based language models – including ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) – can transform the industry and the many aspects surrounding it, ranging from upskilling to creating new job profiles. Though not the first of its kind, the launch of ChatGPT, by Open AI, marks a significant milestone in generative artificial intelligence. An implementation of the GPT-3 transformer model, often used in Natural Language Processing, ChatGPT interacts conversationally, enabling it to answer follow-up questions, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests.

Within a few weeks of its launch, in November 2022, ChatGPT gained massive popularity. Whilst Davies, with his initiative of writing an AI-generated article on net-zero, established a link to engineering, how does ChatGPT measure up in the realm of the HVACR industry? Sahul Hameed, General Manager, Bin Dasmal Contracting, is of the view that AI-enabled bots could be used effectively in entry-level engineering tasks, like preparing method statements or material submissions. The present format of

ChatGPT, he says, is helpful for basic queries but not sufficient to address the complex tasks involved in MEP. “The idea of adopting AI-enabled bots that can streamline operations, reduce time and enhance efficiency is intriguing,” he says. “However, it’s also important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of a new technology before fully embracing it. Further, I also believe that adopting generative technologies, which is the future, will be a gradual and slow process – the shift from manual drafting to AutoCAD itself was a big transformation. The industry will comply with it, as it has embraced technologies across different stages of growth.”

Ronak Monga, Regional Manager, Building Automation - Intesis Middle East, says: “It’s a technology that appears to be disruptive to how we approach work in several industries. Overall, the construction and HVACR industries are also ripe for disruption. AI and other generative tools will bring that next era of productivity gains in how we do things in the industry and, generally, in our lives. They will enable the things we do today through human resources to be done faster and with fewer chances of error. With any new technology, there will be early innovators and early adopters, and there will be those that fall in the early majority or late majority of adopters. It’s currently too early to comment on the adoption rate, specifically in the HVACR industry, but we expect it to start making its impact sooner rather than later.”

Globally, Monga said, we are seeing early adopters of AI in customer support, where AI-powered chatbots can provide a faster way to answer your questions on specific issues related to MEP equipment. Engineers, he said, are using AI to auto-complete solving of complex graphical and mathematical models and AI-based design tools that could replace engineering design tools such as Computer-aided design (CAD) or Building Information Modeling (BIM) software.”

For Ghassan Freiwat, CEO, Awal Gulf Manufacturing, the impact of AI and generative technologies on many industries, with HVAC being one of them, is both inevitable and imperative. “We could see the obvious impact and radical