RICS research finds regular use growing but personnel shortages and security concerns persist as barriers
Use of artificial intelligence (AI) in construction and commercial property has grown markedly over the past year, though firms continue to face difficulties embedding the technology into everyday practice, according to new research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The RICS AI in Commercial Property and Construction Report 2026, drawn from more than 3,100 responses from industry professionals globally, found that roughly two-thirds of construction professionals now use AI in some capacity, up from just over half in 2025. In commercial property, more than three-quarters of respondents reported some level of AI use.
Both sectors share the same proportion of organisations running early-stage pilots, at 39%, but commercial property is converting these more effectively into regular use — 29% compared with 19% in construction.
Investment plans point to continued growth. Nearly half of commercial property respondents (47%) intend to increase AI spending over the next 12 months, against 37% in construction.
The RICS report also indicates the industry's challenge has shifted from encouraging experimentation to successfully integrating AI into professional workflows.
Construction has nonetheless made notable gains. The share of organisations reporting no AI use has fallen by more than a third since 2025, and regular use has risen from 12% to 19%.
Source: RICS AI in Commercial Property and Construction Report 2026
Barriers remain, however. A shortage of skilled staff continues to pose a significant challenge, while privacy and security concerns in construction rose from 22% to 30% over the past year.
RICS is urging organisations to plan from the outset how successful pilots will transition into routine use, including the data infrastructure, system integration, professional oversight and governance frameworks required to support them.
The report draws attention to the RICS professional standard on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice, which took effect in March 2026. The institution said awareness and adoption of the standard will grow in importance as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in professional practice.
"A year ago, this report described an industry approaching an inflection point," said Maureen Ehrenberg (pictured right), president elect of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. "The conditions for AI to take hold were in place, but adoption itself was still limited.
"This year's data shows that point has been crossed. This shift matters, as does the responsibility that comes with it. RICS' professional standard Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Surveying Practice, which came into effect in March 2026, provides members with a well-defined framework for acting with confidence. This is the moment for the profession to lead, not follow."
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
