A call has emerged for the construction industry built on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to become essential infrastructure — not a matter of choice — for economic development and public welfare.
At the "Construction Industry Rebirth 2.0" seminar held at the Construction Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Wednesday, Choi Seok-in, head of planning and management at the Research Institute of Construction Economy (RICE), delivered a keynote presentation outlining trends in AI and robotics and envisioning the future of a construction industry built on these technologies.
Choi first pointed out that the construction industry still faces structural limitations despite the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. These include low digital transformation rates, conservative technology adoption and a regulation-heavy institutional framework. He noted that the transition to smart factories has stalled and safety and quality issues in buildings have become more prominent. "We have reached a point where we must redesign the operating system of the construction industry itself, rather than simply introducing new technologies," Choi said. "Without a structural overhaul, the industry will be left behind."
He also said that while division of labor has long been considered an advantage at traditional construction sites, connecting and innovating across each segment is now the new source of hope. In particular, he argued that AI and robotics will serve as key instruments to link the fragmented construction value chain and drive innovation.
Regarding technology trends, Choi described the rapid progression from generative AI to agentic AI — which sets its own goals — and then to physical AI that integrates with tangible entities. He projected that humanoid robots under development by Tesla and Boston Dynamics, among others, are emerging as a viable alternative that could be deployed at construction sites within two to four years.
Furthermore, he explained that the full-scale adoption of AI and robots can generate a wide range of outcomes, including productivity gains, enhanced safety, quality assurance and reduced financing costs through the elimination of project risks. He added that the workforce structure must also shift from simple repetitive tasks to roles that emphasize value judgment and accountability.
"In the AI era, the future discourse of the construction industry will shift entirely from policy, institutional and volume-centered discussions to AI-related issues," Choi said. "Regulatory modernization — moving from price-based competition to a procurement system that values data capabilities and automation levels — will determine the pace of innovation." He added, "The AI-driven rebirth of the construction industry is essential infrastructure, not a choice. The industry and the government must move forward through bold execution to enhance public welfare."