Currie & Brown Report Finds Cultural Barriers Slowing AI Adoption in Construction

Currie & Brown has published research showing that while 77% of global decision makers expect AI to become more important in construction and infrastructure within five years, cultural barriers continue to slow adoption. The findings were announced in a press release accompanying the firm's new report, Building certainty in an era of relentless change.

The survey of over 1,000 senior decision makers found that only 25% of organizations regularly use AI to identify, monitor, or mitigate project risk, while 20% do not use it at all. Among non-adopters, 40% cited lack of expertise and 39% pointed to resistance to change as primary reasons for not adopting AI.

The report highlights a divide between adopters and non-adopters: 49% of regular AI users said uncertainty accelerated their adoption, compared to 48% of non-adopters who said uncertainty slowed it. Organizations already embracing adaptability and innovation reported greater confidence in achieving project goals, with three-quarters of AI adopters expressing high confidence in delivery outcomes.

Currie & Brown’s analysis concludes that while AI can help reduce risk and improve performance, progress depends on leadership and mindset as much as technology itself.