A new research report titled AI for Contractors, released by Dodge Construction Network in partnership with CMiC, reveals that 87% of construction contractors believe artificial intelligence will have a meaningful, transformative impact on their businesses. Despite this strong belief, current adoption rates remain low, with only a fraction of contractors actively using AI tools across key functions. The study highlights a significant shift in how contractors view their roles. Many anticipate that AI will elevate project managers from administrative task-doers to strategic decision-makers, enabling predictive planning and proactive problem-solving. Key areas expected to benefit include scheduling optimization, cost control, and improved project delivery quality. While awareness of AI’s potential is high, actual implementation is still in early stages. Only 20% to 50% of contractors are aware that specific project or company management functions are enhanced by AI, and in 20 of 23 functions studied, usage is below 15%. However, early adopters are reporting impressive results. More than 70% of contractors using a combination of AI-powered project and company management tools say they are highly effective—outperforming traditional methods. The most promising AI capabilities in demand include automated proposal generation, which showed 92% effectiveness, and contract risk review, with 86% effectiveness. Contractors are also particularly interested in AI for real-time project monitoring, resource allocation, and financial forecasting. Despite the enthusiasm, challenges remain. Over half of contractors are concerned about data accuracy (57%) and data security (54%). More than a third worry about high implementation costs and internal resistance to change. A major barrier to progress is the current state of data quality—only 26% of contractors rate their data as high quality, which limits the effectiveness of AI systems. Steve Jones, Senior Director of Industry Insights Analytics at Dodge, noted that the research was designed to assess AI use in existing digital tools, a practical path to improving data quality and driving adoption. “The fact that so many contractors recognize the challenges and are preparing for change is encouraging,” he said. The findings suggest the construction industry is approaching a tipping point for AI adoption. With strong awareness, growing interest, and validated results from early users, contractors appear ready to expand their use of AI-enabled tools across workflows. To access the full report and explore detailed insights into AI’s evolving role in construction, visit the Dodge Construction Network website.