Innovation and AI at Work in Construction – Connected World

Hopefully, innovation is something that is encouraged and celebrated all year long, but for some it is commemorated on February 16—Innovation Day—to recognize the role that new knowledge plays in spurring creativity and ingenuity in an organization. Such is the case for Skanska USA, which launched Skanska Sidekick on Innovation Day last week. Skanska Sidekick is a proprietary chatbot designed to alter how solutions are delivered to customers. Here’s how it works: Sidekick leverages the same underlying technology as ChatGPT, and all data that is input into these internal tools will remain within the Skanska Cloud to ensure the safety and security of both proprietary company and customer information. The benefits are vast. The internal solution improves AI (artificial intelligence)-content generation and will enable construction entities to harness the vast knowledge across their entire company. Ultimately, the technology will empower teams to work more efficiently, improve decision-making, and provide value-added services for Skanska’s customers. The company says Sidekick is key to Skanska’s commitment to leverage AI as part of its overarching data and innovation strategy, positioning the firm’s data and emerging tech teams at the forefront of industry innovation as they continue to investigate the development of cutting-edge construction technology solutions. While Skanska Sidekick is certainly one example, many construction companies are now considering how generative AI and ChatGPT fit into today’s business model—and as with everything there are risks and rewards. This week, Peggy Smedley talks about this very topic on her radio show, The Peggy Smedley Show. She shares her thoughts on both the promise and the peril of generative AI, pointing to five risks and five opportunities that exist for technology. The reality is the technology is here. Businesses are already using it. If construction companies want to be competitive in today’s market, they must consider how AI fits into the equation. Skanska has a commitment to the secure and responsible use of AI within the construction industry. Other companies must have the same commitment. Responsible use of artificial intelligence can mean different things to different people, but at its core companies must be transparent, well-informed, and strategic when it comes to artificial intelligence. They must know the changing rules and regulations. They must share with their customers how they are delivering greater value and services. And they must also consider how the technology will be used in corporate processes—and how the people will work side-by-side with the technology. The first step to responsibly leveraging artificial intelligence is being open to learning and being willing to embrace innovation. Perhaps there is no better time to start than now. Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #construction #IoT #sustainability #AI #5G #cloud #edge #futureofwork #infrastructure #innovation!