Powering Construction Decision-Making with AI

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Senthil Kumar, the CTO and Head of AI at Slate Technologies. We delved into the transformative role of AI in the construction industry, focusing on how it can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. Innovative AI solutions for decision-making Senthil shared his extensive background in decision science and artificial intelligence, highlighting his journey from working on decision management platforms to applying the technology in various sectors, including construction. He emphasized the importance of not just incremental improvements but achieving transformative impacts in the AEC industry. We discussed Slate Technologies’ innovative solutions. They assist in decision-making across multiple phases of the construction lifecycle—from design validation and optimization to schedule and cost management. Senthil provided compelling examples of how their AI solutions have been successfully implemented by large general contractors in the UK and North America, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Senthil also gave us an in-depth look at the advanced AI technologies behind their products, including AI swarm agents, intent-based computation, and a proprietary language model for the construction sector. He explained how these technologies work together to provide contextual and situational intelligence, enhancing operational efficiencies. Soft data and biases We touched on the importance of incorporating soft data, such as personal anecdotes and qualitative insights, to improve the model’s accuracy. Senthil highlighted how this data adds depth and a human touch to AI systems, making them more empathetic and versatile. Addressing biases was another critical topic we covered. Senthil outlined various techniques, such as counterfactual reasoning and blind taste tests, to ensure fairness and mitigate biases in AI models. Finally, we explored the evolving role of human expertise in conjunction with AI advancements. Senthil envisions a future where humans and AI cohabitate and co-evolve, with AI augmenting human decision-making and strategic planning while humans provide ethical oversight and contextual understanding. For more information on Slate Technologies and to connect with Senthil, visit slate.ai or find him on LinkedIn. Thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for more insights and stories on the AEC Business Podcast! Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform