For the AEC industry, AI brings promising capabilities for innovative design, more sustainable practices, expedited workflows and more. However, it also introduces numerous challenges, known and unknown. To better understand these potential benefits and barriers, BST Global surveyed AEC firm technology leaders from around the world about their current and planned AI initiatives, expectations and obstacles.
United States
Canada
Australia
Europe
Africa
Tech Leaders
(Leadership titles related to data, information, technology, digital, AI, and innovation)
Small/Medium Firms(≤ 500 employees)
54%
Large Firms(> 500 employees)
46%
Based on the survey data, our “AI + Data Insights 2025: Global AEC Industry Report” identifies five main themes that illustrate the industry’s sentiments, readiness and strategy regarding AI technology and these emerging concerns.
- Importance & Adoption of AI: Today’s AEC firms believe AI will transform the industry and widely acknowledge its value, but few are ready to embrace it.
77% of respondents believe Al will transform their firm’s business model.
Only about 20% of respondents claimed readiness at a mature or advanced level, with most indicating that their firms are still in the pilot or exploration stage.
- Business & Strategic Impact of AI: Company-wide efficiency gains won’t happen overnight. Creating an AI roadmap, setting measurable goals and accounting for future developments are key building blocks for success.
At least 1/3 of respondents revealed that their AI strategy is not integrated with their business strategy.
- Technology & Generative AI Use Cases: Fear of missing out can result in hasty, low-ROI initiatives. Applying the right technologies in high-impact areas is vital to proving AI’s value.
Generative design is changing the conceptual phase for AEC firms, allowing them to quickly iterate several designs and keep humans in the loop to determine which one best meets project objectives and satisfies client requirements.
- Data Governance & Security: With big data comes big responsibility. Experimental technologies can leave firms open to security threats, so balancing eagerness with caution is crucial.
More than half of respondents reported that their firms are currently using open/public GenAI models.
- Workforce Impact: While employees may have mixed feelings about AI, leadership can ease displacement concerns through change management, upskilling and reskilling.
Shankar Kalyana
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
If we can harness AI and data, there’s so much promise, but we must be mindful of how employees do the work. People and processes come first; technology is subservient. That is the real shift — use AI to empower humans, not replace them.
- Importance & Adoption of AI: Today’s AEC firms believe AI will transform the industry and widely acknowledge its value, but few are ready to embrace it.
- Business & Strategic Impact of AI: Company-wide efficiency gains won’t happen overnight. Creating an AI roadmap, setting measurable goals and accounting for future developments are key building blocks for success.
At least 1/3 of respondents revealed that their AI strategy is not integrated with their business strategy.
- Technology & Generative AI Use Cases: Fear of missing out can result in hasty, low-ROI initiatives. Applying the right technologies in high-impact areas is vital to proving AI’s value.
Generative design is changing the conceptual phase for AEC firms, allowing them to quickly iterate several designs and keep humans in the loop to determine which one best meets project objectives and satisfies client requirements.
- Data Governance & Security: With big data comes big responsibility. Experimental technologies can leave firms open to security threats, so balancing eagerness with caution is crucial.
More than half of respondents reported that their firms are currently using open/public GenAI models.
- Workforce Impact: While employees may have mixed feelings about AI, leadership can ease displacement concerns through change management, upskilling and reskilling.
Darren Martin
Chief Digital Officer
AI helps us unify all that data for better decisions, but we can’t just automate everything and walk away. We must have domain experts guiding the models, verifying outputs and ensuring they reflect real-world constraints.
BST Global partnered with the AI + Data Consortium and ACEC’s Technology Committee on this examination of AI in the AEC industry. Get the full report today for more insights and implications around the key themes, plus recommendations to ensure your firm is on the right path for a successful AI journey.
