The built environment is one of the sectors least prepared to use the benefits of AI, according to the British Standards Institution.
The national standards body assessed seven sectors across nine global markets on how ready they are to adopt AI tools.
The built environment came second to last, in front of healthcare. Scoring was out of a possible 5, and the built environment scored 1.9.
Life sciences or pharmaceuticals came top with 4.3, followed by technology with 3.8, food or farming 2.5, retail 2.2, and transport and mobility with 2.
BSI Group chief executive Susan Taylor Martin said: “While the model shows diverging paths thus far on AI, its mass adoption and integration into work and life is a marathon, not a sprint. Success is not about being first, but about building trust.”
BSI’s International AI Maturity Model was compiled from interviews with 932 business leaders. It was published as part of the BSI’s Trust in AI report.
Intention to invest
Questions were also asked about investment and strategy. The report found 24% of built environment businesses are not investing in AI now, but 86% want to within the next five years.
Just 37% had an AI strategy in place. Yet 77% of built environment business leaders said their business encouraged the use of AI.
Polling was carried out by Yonder Consulting in March 2024. The model was developed and produced by Burson.
The global picture reported is that UK and Japanese businesses – across the seven sectors – were least likely to encourage use of AI and least confident in using it.
Chinese and Indian businesses led the way in AI take-up with the US in third place, followed by Australia.
Nuanced picture
Taylor Martin added: “BSI’s International AI Maturity Model paints a positive but nuanced picture of a world excited about AI’s potential and its promise as a force for good.
“Some countries and some sectors are pulling ahead while for others there is a journey still to go on to build trust and confidence. Investment in standards, training and assurance is key as AI becomes integral to the future of life and work.”
The report also contained some guidelines on how to build trust and encourage AI use as a force for good.
These included: thinking long-term and including AI as part of the wider business strategy; collaborating across borders to innovate safely; clarify priorities with regards AI; lead and set the standard where AI is a force for good.
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