How To Use AI In Pre-construction And Project Management (Without Overengineering It)

How to Use AI in Pre-Construction and Project Management Without Overengineering

AI is transforming the way we work not just in construction but also in pre-construction. In this blog, I’ll share key ways you can start using AI safely, practically, and effectively.

Imagine having a “second brain” that provides information, double-checks your work, and helps spot risks or schedule drift. That’s the potential we’re talking about.

My AI Experience

This journey started about a year ago for me, but I really began implementing AI just a couple of months ago and the results have been remarkable.

When I first experimented with AI, the outputs were almost unusable. I tested it by drafting chapters for my upcoming book, Elevating Construction General Superintendent. The early results were awkward and inaccurate.

But I didn’t give up. Instead, I trained AI with my own content, book drafts, podcast transcripts, and blog transcripts. I refined prompts, guided the AI on my preferences, and corrected mistakes. Over time, the system started “thinking” more like me.

Now, when I draft a chapter using AI, it feels polished and professional. Sometimes I even get emotional reading the results, it’s that good.

This success didn’t just stay in writing. I began applying AI to construction workflows: reviewing specifications, building submittal logs, checking schedules, and sequencing work. The productivity boost has been remarkable.

Why AI Feels Like a Second Brain

Eight months ago, I thought AI was useless. Today, I can’t imagine working without it.

The lesson? AI is like onboarding a new employee with incredible brainpower but no training. Once you invest the time to “teach” it, the payoff is huge. You’ll find that AI accelerates tasks, improves clarity, and helps you think strategically.

Practical Uses of AI in Construction

Here are some ways AI is already making an impact:

• Extracting key details from prime contracts.
• Creating submittal and testing/inspection registers.
• Analyzing drawings for quantity takeoffs.
• Assisting with estimating and bid leveling.
• Checking project schedules for risks and sequencing issues.

One surprising finding: when tested against real project pull plans, AI-generated base sequences were often 95% accurate sometimes even more precise than human estimates.

AI for Production Planning

In our production planning, AI is already helping analyze sequences, zone sizes, and densities. We’re not far maybe nine months away from AI being capable of generating an entire production plan.

That said, human oversight remains essential. AI should provide the base, but it’s up to us to verify, adjust, and apply real-world knowledge. Think of AI as an accelerator, not a replacement.

Warnings and Best Practices

While the potential is huge, there are risks:

• Untrained AI can hallucinate or generate misleading outputs.
• Relying only on CPM-based scheduling tools is dangerous. They don’t reflect lean, takt-based production principles.
• Blindly trusting outputs is risky. Always double-check with human intelligence.

The solution is simple: use AI as a starting point, not the final authority.

Getting Started With AI

You don’t need a tech team to begin. Here’s how:

1. Start small. Learn basic prompting on your preferred AI platform.
2. Aim for adoption. Once you’re using AI for 15–30% of your daily tasks, you’ll naturally expand into more advanced uses.
3. Train a team member. Identify someone to specialize in AI applications for your projects.
4. Bring in help. If needed, hire a consultant to accelerate setup. It’s cost-effective and will save time in the long run.

Final Advice

Start with ChatGPT. Get comfortable, get addicted, and soon 30% of your day will benefit from AI. From there, the opportunities expand rapidly.