Why the next generation of construction leaders need a different kind of digital literacy 

By Tom Storey MRICS - Senior Specialist, Data & Technology at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Two-thirds of construction professionals now use artificial intelligence in some part of their work according to RICS’ AI in Commercial Property and Construction Report 2026.  

 Across the built environment and construction value chain, AI is helping teams analyse data, identify risks and enhance decision-making. Adoption is accelerating and new use cases continue to emerge. The conversation is no longer about whether AI will become part of professional practice. It already is.  

Amid all the discussion about technology, the profession must address a fundamental question: how do we develop the judgement, experience and leadership skills professionals need when many of the tasks that once built those capabilities can now be completed by AI systems? 

We will explore these questions further at RICS' Technology & AI Summit on Monday 30th November 2026, bringing practitioners together from across the built and natural environment to examine how emerging technologies can be adopted responsibly in practice. We will also examine what these changes mean for professionals. 

For decades, professional expertise has developed through experience. Early-career professionals learnt their craft by carrying out research, reviewing information, preparing reports, analysing data and receiving feedback from colleagues. Those routine activities helped professionals build technical competence, commercial awareness and, ultimately, professional judgement. 

Today, many of those same activities can be completed more efficiently with AI. This creates a significant opportunity. Used well, AI can reduce administrative burden, improve productivity and allow professionals to focus on higher-value work. It can help organisations make better use of data, identify patterns and support informed decision-making creating better value and outcomes for all stakeholders. But it also presents a challenge. If the profession becomes less reliant on routine tasks to generate experience, we need to become more deliberate about how we develop future expertise. 

One of the most striking observations I've heard is that AI is removing traditional rungs on the career ladder.   

The ladder is being cut from the bottom.  

That does not mean expertise becomes less important. As technology becomes more capable, the value of professional judgement increases. Organisations will continue to need professionals who can challenge assumptions, interpret context, assess risk and make informed decisions when there is no obvious answer. 

The future belongs not simply to people who know how to use AI, but to people who know when not to trust it. 

Digital literacy is evolving 

Discussions around AI focus on digital skills. These are important, but I believe we need a broader definition of digital literacy. In an AI-enabled profession, literacy is not simply the ability to use technology, it is the ability to question it. It means understanding where data comes from, recognising the limitations of automated outputs and applying professional judgement before acting on recommendations, including recognising when a result that appears credible may still be wrong. Construction professionals have always worked with imperfect information, assessing its reliability before making decisions.  AI does not remove the responsibility to exercise professional judgment, it reinforces it. 

As AI-generated outputs become increasingly sophisticated, the profession must remain focused on accountability, transparency and professional oversight. While AI can generate answers, it cannot assume responsibility for the consequences of those answers. 

Building trust in an AI-enabled profession 

Discussions about AI should not focus solely on technology, the real challenge is trust. Trust in the data, systems and governance that sit behind them, and in the professionals using these tools responsibly. 

The latest RICS research suggests that while AI adoption continues to increase, many organisations are still developing the governance structures, capabilities and confidence needed to scale its use effectively. The challenge is no longer access to technology. It is ensuring technology is implemented in a way that delivers value while maintaining professional standards. This is why professional standards, ethics and competence remain so important - they help build confidence in the profession's ability to adopt emerging technologies responsibly and effectively. 

The introduction of RICS’ professional standard on the responsible use of AI reflects a simple principle: technology can support professional judgement, but responsibility for decisions remains with the professional.  

Developing tomorrow's leaders 

This extends beyond today's workforce. Today's graduates will become tomorrow's project directors, specialists and business leaders. Their success will depend not only on understanding technology, but on developing the judgement and critical thinking needed to use it effectively.  

Firms, professional bodies and educational institutions all have a responsibility to develop future expertise, educate the next generation of professionals and support the development of sound professional judgement. 

We cannot assume that experience will develop in the same way it did for previous generations. Organisations may need to place greater emphasis on mentoring, peer review, knowledge-sharing and supervised learning. Creating opportunities for professionals to challenge assumptions, understand how decisions are made and learn from experienced practitioners will be essential to develop the next generation of industry leaders.  

Developing technical competence remains essential, but judgement may become the greater challenge. 

Turning discussion into action 

Encouragingly, the profession is already engaging with these questions. Across the built and natural environment, organisations are investigating how AI can deliver better outcomes. The profession must share what works, learn from mistakes and build capability at the same pace as the technology itself. This reinforces the value of industry forums, professional networks and events. By convening professionals from across the built and natural environment, encouraging healthy debate and moving beyond the hype of AI, these forums help the profession examine what responsible adoption looks like in practice and influence the direction of industry discussion. 

If these are challenges your organisation is navigating, I hope you'll join us at the Technology & AI Summit and contribute to the discussion.  

Looking ahead 

The future of construction will undoubtedly involve more AI, automation and data-driven decision-making. Technology alone will not determine the success of the profession - people will. The organisations that thrive will combine innovation with expertise, technology with trust and efficiency with professional judgement. 

As AI continues to evolve, helping the next generation develop those qualities may become a foremost responsibility for the industry. 

The profession must match technological progress with continued investment in professional competence, judgement and leadership.