Is artificial intelligence a threat to your job?

AI or ChatGPT. Everybody's talking about it, and a growing swell of doomsayers reckon it will mean widespread job losses. According to a report in March this year from Goldman Sachs, up to 300 million jobs could be lost to AI automation in Europe and the US. So are building careers on the line?

Yes. And no. AI can potentially eliminate some jobs in the future on large commercial building and infrastructure projects. But for the average Kiwi tradie working on residential homes, the threat of some robotic device taking your job is almost zilch.

Martin Ford, the author of Rule of Robots: How artificial intelligence will transform everything, believes there are three main categories of jobs that are going to be relatively insulated in the foreseeable future from job losses because of AI.

They include "jobs that require lots of mobility and dexterity and problem-solving ability in unpredictable environments," says Ford, who singled out trade jobs as a good example – builders, electricians, plumbers and the like.

"These are the kinds of jobs where you're always dealing with a new situation. They are probably the hardest of anything to automate."

While AI won't threaten most trade jobs in the building industry, it doesn't mean they will be totally insulated from its effects. Most jobs, regardless of industry, have aspects that are likely to be automated by the technology.

These days, many components in a home are prebuilt using a degree of automation – think frames and trusses, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, engineered structural timber components etc.

With advanced AI, this trend is likely to continue at pace. But while AI will change the nature of some jobs, the technology will complement builders' skills rather than replace them entirely.

Skilled builders will always be required for critical decision-making, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and tasks that require human judgement and adaptability.

We used AI to evaluate the effects of AI in the building industry. Here's a summary:

▶ AI can automate repetitive and labour-intensive tasks, such as bricklaying, concrete pouring, or material transportation.

▶ AI algorithms can analyse data from sensors, cameras, and other sources to identify safety risks, such as unsafe working conditions or equipment malfunctions.

▶ AI can assist builders in the design and planning phase by generating optimised layouts and configurations based on historical data, building codes, and other relevant information.

▶ AI can assist in project management, including resource allocation, scheduling, and progress tracking.

▶ AI-powered training tools can provide builders with interactive and personalised learning experiences, while virtual assistants or chatbots can assist builders by answering questions and offering access to a vast repository of construction knowledge.

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