In an industry defined by steel, concrete, and tradition, can something as intangible as artificial intelligence really change the game?
That question took center stage at the Construction Technology Confex 2025, where Tariq Qureishy, Founder & CEO of the Future Readiness Institute, delivered a keynote that wasn’t just informative, it was provocative. Instead of focusing on tools and trends, Qureishy challenged construction leaders to rethink the very identity of their businesses in the age of AI.
Are we just using AI or becoming AI-driven?
One of the most compelling moments came early in his presentation, when Qureishy asked:
“Are you a construction company using technology or an AI company that builds things?”
It was more than clever framing. It was a call to reframe how the industry views itself. Rather than layering AI on top of legacy systems, Qureishy argued, the real opportunity lies in building from the ground up with AI as a core foundation.
AI isn’t a shortcut for efficiency. It’s the launchpad for reinvention.
Throughout his talk, Qureishy posed three deceptively simple questions, ones he believes every construction professional must answer:
- Are you ready for the 10x opportunities AI can unlock?
- Are you using your human “superpowers” – creativity, intuition, and insight, to full effect?
- Are you building a future-ready, AI-powered business or retrofitting old models with new tools?
The answers, he warned, will define who thrives in the next decade—and who gets left behind.
AI in construction: Why human values still matter
While AI promises faster decisions and smarter automation, he kept circling back to something more fundamental: values.
“Without trust, truth, and ethics,” he warned, “AI becomes a weapon of mass destruction.”
In a world where misinformation spreads quickly and institutions face declining trust, he argued that human qualities like empathy, integrity, and creativity will become even more essential. AI can process data, but it can’t care. It can predict outcomes, but it can’t lead with vision.
The takeaway? AI might run the systems, but it’s humans who must steer the ship.
How construction companies can turn data into competitive advantage
One of the most actionable points came when Qureishy compared data to oil, not in its raw form, but in how it’s refined and applied.
“Most construction firms are sitting on a goldmine of data,” he said, “but very few know how to extract value from it.”
From project timelines and material usage to labor productivity and cost overruns, the industry generates immense amounts of information. The challenge is turning that into strategic insight and AI is the tool that can do just that, at scale.
He shared a compelling real-world example: a UAE-based conglomerate that added a non-voting AI board member, called Aiden, to support executive decision-making. Aiden doesn’t replace leadership, it augments it.
“This isn’t the future,” Qureishy noted. “It’s already happening.”
Will AI transform construction or bring only incremental change?
If you’re treating AI as just another line item in your digital strategy, you’re missing the bigger picture. According to Qureishy, this isn’t about doing the same things faster. It’s about doing entirely different things and doing them differently.
The real question isn’t whether AI will change construction. It’s how deeply and whether you’ll lead that transformation or struggle to catch up.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY CONFEX KSA 2025
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