Dive Brief:
- Amid a flood of interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning among U.S. industries, Redwood City, California-based contractor DPR has a more subdued take on the technology.
- The builder discussed the future of AI and supply chains in its recent Q1 2024 Market Conditions Report. DPR urged readers to be careful who they listen to and what they believe when it comes to AI and machine learning.
- DPR’s report fits into a trend of organizations that are attempting to make sense of AI and prognosticate about what it could bring to the industry. Earlier this month, Associated Builders and Contractors published a new guide to AI that provides a framework for construction firms to familiarize themselves with the tech.
Dive Insight:
DPR’s report advised caution when tapping into the knowledge of chatbots like ChatGPT, for any insights about the construction industry. The builder noted that replies are often generic, and usually tell the user to consult a professional for advice and evaluation.
That’s not to say that DPR is completely down on the technology. To the contrary, the report points to the company’s own algorithms built on top of its structured data to help teams wade through past projects for insights on current and future jobs.
“We are developing applications powered by generative AI designed to revolutionize how questions about projects, data and documents are addressed,” said Hrishi Maha, DPR’s AI and data leader, in the report. “Our aim is to significantly enhance the speed and efficiency of information retrieval and analysis.”
The firm also echoed a refrain familiar to builders that have followed the development of other new technologies — that people are at the center of its processes.
“By harnessing the power of AI in our decision-making framework, we are not just utilizing data; we are empowering it to guide us toward smarter, more effective outcomes. The industry is heading that way and so are we,” the report reads.
