Buildings will always get built. AI and new tech are changing how

EDWARDS, Ill. (NewsNation) — Many may see construction as a muddy boots profession, but as the industry faces an ongoing and chronic worker shortage, artificial intelligence and other technology are changing the way work gets done.

For every five construction workers that retire, only two new workers emerge to fill those openings, according to Jim Barrett, the chief innovation officer for Turner Construction, the nation’s largest building company.  To fill the void of new workers, construction companies are leaning into high-tech solutions.

Drones equipped with AI technology help companies map out building projects and predict obstacles to keep them on time and on budget.

Artificial intelligence is used to train robots that transport and lay bricks at otherwise traditional job sites as construction company owners and site managers seek new ways to make up for smaller workforces.

The new tech helps engage a new generation of construction workers. Barrett says in his encounters with trade school students, that technology helps to bring a modern twist to what many consider an “old-school” trade.

“Cool and constr...