It’s natural to fear that AI is going to replace services, but what it’s really coming for is time-sucking, inefficient, headache-inducing busywork.
By Shandon Harbour, President & CEO of ABC San Diego
When you hear the words artificial intelligence, what do you think of? Dorky sci-fi robots? Fake social media videos? Random ChatGPT advice?
That’s not where my mind goes. I picture something much more . . . human. That’s because my first time using AI affected me in a very personal way.
Earlier this year, I was sitting in the hospital supporting my husband after his brother had had a heart attack. The doctor was explaining the situation, and very little of it made any sense to me. So I decided to try this thing called ChatGPT and asked it to explain a few terms. In a matter of seconds, I was reading a translation of doctor medical-speak that any fifth grader could understand.
As I continued to make various “asks” of ChatGPT – or queries – and receiving those answers in literally the blink of an eye, I became hooked. And when I realized that the free version limits the number of queries I could make in single day, I paid the $19.99 a month for a personal subscription. Because of the stigma around AI, I had not yet admitted to anyone that I was dabbling with ChatGPT (or that I had named my digital assistant Bert).
But my AI journey isn’t unique. It’s no secret that AI is transforming our world, and the construction industry is no different.
This summer, ABC National decided to create policy around AI and scheduled a town hall meeting for the leadership team. That event was an eye-opener for me, because we discovered that all of us were using AI tools of one kind or another, and about one-third of ABC chapters were already using it. I inquired with ABCSD members and learned that many of them were using ChatGPT or a customized AI management solution.
It’s natural to fear that AI is going to replace their services, or require too much of their time to learn a new technology. Some believe the shift to AI will be so at odds with the way they do business that they’ll be left behind.
But I’m here to set the record straight: AI is not coming for our jobs.
First, there’s no replacement for construction skills, talent, and on-site decision-making. AI can’t swing a hammer, or pull wire. It can’t make discerning decisions on the jobsite or create trust or culture in the workplace.
What is AI coming for? Time-sucking, inefficient, headache-inducing busywork.
It can help us carry out dozens of business operational tasks more thoroughly and efficiently, dissolving the administrative grind that bogs us down day after day. Think about the hours we waste plowing through emails, committing data entry errors, or searching last year’s submittal language. ABCSD has invested in a ChatGPT subscription. If our small business can benefit from AI to help us quickly process information, saving us hours, even days, so can yours!
Ever wonder why Gen Z is called the Toolbelt Generation? It’s because these young folks are avoiding career paths and jobs that are being taken over by AI. So instead of filling out college applications, they’re signing up for vocational programs and learning and excelling in trades. A recent report by American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) examined how associations are using AI and preparing for its future impact. Most associations reported using AI for content creation (87.5%) and data analysis (47.3%).
So I say, let AI do the heavy lifting in the office while you focus on more exciting things – like building. This issue of Behind the Build is taking a deep dive into AI. Be sure to read Rowan Steel-Hall’s fantastic article on how contractors can use AI to their advantage. And remember, I’m here to help. If you have questions or concerns about AI, please get in touch with me so we can talk more about it.