The majority (75 per cent) of project professionals working in the construction sector say their organisation now uses AI in projects, compared to 15 per cent only two years ago. In addition, a quarter (25 per cent) of project managers say that their organisation is planning to adopt AI to project management functions.
The findings are highlighted in a new survey by Association for Project Management (APM), and research company Censuswide, which surveyed 1,000 project professionals across a range of industry sectors including construction. Comparative data – from an APM survey in 2023 – also shows that two years ago, 63 per cent of project managers in construction said their organisation wasn’t using AI and had no plans to introduce it. In 2025, 0 per cent of respondents said their organisation wasn’t using AI.
This is resulting in multiple benefits and improvements to project delivery. When asked which project functions have benefited the most from AI implementation (from those respondents working in construction whose organisation is already using AI) the main responses were:
- Recourse allocation – 62 per cent of respondents using AI who have seen a benefit
- Reporting and dashboarding – 58 per cent
- Risk analysis and forecasting – 52 per cent
- Task and schedule automation – 48 per cent
- Stakeholder communications – 45 per cent
APM has also found that 82 per cent of those working in projects in construction are using AI more frequently than they anticipated five years ago, with just 18 per cent who say they are using it less frequently than anticipated.
Comparative data between 2023 and 2025 also reveals increasing optimism in the use of AI in construction projects. In APM’s latest survey, 62 per cent of respondents think the latest advancements of AI will be very positive for their industry/sector, compared to just six per cent who said it would have a very positive effect when asked the same question in 2023.
The positive impacts that project professionals most anticipated from AI are:
- More accurate data analysis – 60 per cent
- Free up time for project professionals to work on more strategic areas of the job by completing administrative tasks – 52 per cent
- Stronger cyber security – 43 per cent
- Assist in decision making – 42 per cent
- Reduce project costs – 40 per cent
There is also positivity across the profession regarding support by employers with the adoption of AI, with 77 per cent saying they are confident their organisation is adequately preparing its project managers for the growing rise in AI, and 23 per cent saying efforts to improve skills in AI are underway.
However, of those already using AI, nearly half (49 per cent) said technical knowledge and training is a challenge they have encountered, amongst other concerns including security / data privacy (56 per cent of respondents), integration with organisation workflows (41 per cent) and inaccuracy / untrustworthiness of using AI at work 46 per cent.
The importance of training and upskilling in AI is highlighted by James Doherty, a project controls expert at maritime consulting firm BMT who says, “You have to feel suitably qualified and experienced before you should be using AI to generate any work for you. It’s about assurance, you have to sign your name at the bottom of anything you’re delivering.”
“There are new AI tools cropping up every other day that do ‘just about everything that you could ever want. The challenge is implementing these safely, at scale. It takes effort behind the scenes.”
Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, says: “The pace at which AI is transforming project management is remarkable. In just two years, we’ve seen a rapid shift in adoption levels in the construction sector, with the vast majority of project professionals now working alongside AI tools to plan and deliver better outcomes. This isn’t about replacing project managers, but about enabling them — freeing up time, enhancing analysis, and improving decision-making.
“What our survey shows clearly is both the opportunity and the responsibility: organisations must continue investing in training and support, to enable project professionals to feel equipped and confident to use AI effectively, safely and ethically. The future of the profession will not be defined by AI alone, but by how people use it to create real value.
“APM has produced a series resources including case studies to help project, programme and portfolio professionals better understand the current impacts of AI and the journey towards adoption.”
- In construction, 75 per cent of survey respondents said their organisation is using AI in projects (in 2025) compared to 15 per cent in 2023
- In engineering 73 per cent or respondents said their organisation is using AI (in 2025) in comparison to 35 per cent in 2023
- In transport 71 per cent of project professionals said their organisation is using AI (in 2025) compared to 36 per cent in 2023
