Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform the construction industry in India, and Chennai-based DRA Homes claims to be the first to adopt it, collaborating with Silicon Valley-based Slate Technologies. Based on their experience, the promoters say AI offers many benefits.
It makes real-time tracking of construction progress possible; it can forecast problems, ensure quality control, help take data-driven decisions and above all, give an accurate status on completion to ensure faster delivery.
Speaking to NDTV, Slate's Global Head of AI, Senthil Kumar said "super talent" is what AI brings. ''Quality issues, even though they may look smaller today, it can go into bigger problems. So before it becomes a bigger issue, AI machines are able to identify and detect and help the human counterpart with it," he said.
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"Based on the current data, it is able to predict the future. Today, it can predict if the project is going to get delayed by 3, 4, or 5 months and say the completion date of the project is not until next year or so. AI is pretty good at these kinds of predictions," Kumar added.
Builders say adopting AI does not increase the cost of construction but helps customers and promoters save costs. DRA managing director Ranjeeth Rathod said, "If you are giving as early as possible, obviously they are saving on the rental and EMI, which is a direct cost saving for the customer. There will be a financial benefit also to the promoter, so we will have interest benefits."
Giving an example, Rathod added, "our pricing negotiation becomes better across my projects. AI will tell us our projects need so many thousands of tiles, which otherwise would have been departmentalized. This way, we are able to negotiate a better price. So cost also gets optimised."
There is no immediate threat of job losses due to AI in the construction industry in India. However, this could change later when physical AI takes over. In many other developed countries, particularly in off-site prefabrication and on-site assembly, which would deploy robotics, AI has come into the space.
When asked if India's largely unorganised construction workforce is ready for such technology, Kumar argued that AI integration is inevitable. "Whether the industry is ready or not, AI is coming," he said. "It may seem disorganised, but there's no better time than now to begin this journey."
Kumar remains optimistic about the future of AI in Indian real estate, noting a surge in interest. "We are seeing a lot of excitement and are already signing new partners," he added. "The reception has been strong, both in Southern India and across the rest of the country."
(With inputs from Aradhana S.)
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