Dive Brief:

• New technology, including intelligent agents (robots) and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), are disrupting the construction industry, replacing skilled labor with often-autonomous digital alternatives.

• In addition to new opportunities, the entrance of intelligent technology in many industries raises concerns over risk, according to two new reports from market research company Forrester and global insurance provider Allianz. One concern deals with the rise of spoofing, or the unwarranted hacking of a live drone radio signal, which can lead to a crash or data theft, Allianz reports.

• Experts warn that little is being done at the policy level to address the imminent changes to the global workforce and security framework from artificial intelligence.

Dive Insight:

The promise and peril of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and drone technology gets yet another installment with new reports from Forrester and Allianz that paint a worrisome picture of the rise of the machines. For construction professionals, the risks could be substantial: driverless technologies are already making their way onto the job site, and the extensive use of drones for pre-construction, site planning, inspections and monitoring could make GCs and AEC firms an easy target for so-called spoofers.

Already OEMs are introducing radio-operated equipment, including remote control bulldozers. While machine telemetry data might not be worth thievery, the damage incurred by a malfeasant hacker intent on creating havoc at construction site could be substantial.

What remains compelling for the construction industry on the AI front is the technology's potential impact on skilled labor, particularly to displaced drivers and equipment operators who will need to embrace new systems and technologies in order to qualify for the new jobs created to manage and operate AI-powered equipment.