Construction teams are changing how they function, according to a new report from the Berkeley Research Group.
The new study shows that among North American respondents, 46 percent changed team structures and 38 percent retrained employees. Interestingly, 18 percent of construction teams added headcount in certain areas while only 11percent reduced it because of AI.
Over two-thirds of North American respondents invested at least $250,000 in AI over the previous two years, including 37 percent that spent $1 million or more, the survey found. Despite the widespread adoption and spend,15 percent said they’d fully integrated the technology across projects and operations.
BRG found that leading construction organizations are strengthening controls, improving governance, creating better visibility and using risk management to support growth.
“In recruiting, it is critical to focus on team members who will be able to manage and progress AI-type applications in the future,” said Richard Fultineer, BRG’s managing director and head of global construction. “The immediate impact is on information-intensive work like cost estimating, procurement, design review, schedule oversight and contract and compliance review.”
BRG surveyed 109 executives involved in AI implementation in July 2026, including 58 builders and 51 owners. Most findings reflect the opinions of 65 North American respondents. Surveyed builders were mainly small-to-mid-sized general contractors and construction managers; owners were primarily larger developers and real estate investment trusts.
