A new survey by the Association for Project Management (APM) and research firm Censuswide reveals a dramatic rise in AI adoption across the construction sector, marking a decisive shift toward data-driven project delivery. In 2025, 75% of construction professionals reported that their organisations were already using AI, a steep increase from just 15% in 2023. A further 25% said their employers plan to introduce AI tools soon.
The findings mirror wider trends across the built-environment. AI use in engineering surged to 73% in 2025, up from 35% two years earlier, while transport reported an increase from 36% to 71% over the same period.
Construction teams say AI is already reshaping workflows. Among organisations already using the technology, respondents cited improvements in resource allocation (62%), reporting and dashboards (58%), risk analysis and forecasting (52%), task and schedule automation (48%) and stakeholder communications (45%).
Attitudes toward AI have shifted equally quickly. In 2023, only 6% of construction project professionals believed recent AI advances would have a “very positive” effect on the sector; by 2025, that figure had jumped to 62%. APM notes that 82% of respondents are using AI more frequently than they expected five years ago.
Respondents also highlighted future benefits, led by more accurate data analysis (60%), automation of admin tasks (52%), stronger cybersecurity (43%), improved decision-making (42%), and lower project costs (40%).
However, concerns persist. Among current AI users, 56% pointed to data security and privacy risks, 49% cited gaps in technical training, 46% worried about accuracy of AI outputs, and 41% noted integration challenges with existing systems.
Despite these issues, 77% of construction project professionals believe their organisations are preparing them adequately for AI-driven workflows, while 23% said active upskilling initiatives are underway.
Industry analysts say the findings reflect AI’s rapid entry into day-to-day project management, fuelled by advances in data capture, planning systems and risk-modelling. While construction has historically been slower to digitalise, improved tools and stronger commercial incentives are accelerating adoption. Still, experts argue that long-term gains will depend on investment in governance, training and data security, as well as careful integration with established processes.
Commenting on the implications, James Doherty, project controls expert at BMT, warned that AI must be used responsibly:
“You have to feel suitably qualified and experienced before using AI to generate any work. The challenge is implementing these tools safely, at scale.”
APM chief executive Adam Boddison said the transformation underway is reshaping the profession:
“The pace at which AI is transforming project management is remarkable. This isn’t about replacing project managers, but enabling them—freeing time, enhancing analysis and improving decision-making. Organisations must continue investing in training to ensure professionals can use AI effectively, safely and ethically.”
APM has released a suite of resources and case studies to support practitioners as AI becomes embedded across project, programme and portfolio management.