3 Ways Contractors Can Use AI Today
I first became aware of the AI revolution in 2021 through a podcast featuring Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google. Schmidt expressed remarkable optimism about the capabilities of ChatGPT and predicted its transformative impact over the next three years. Now, as those three years have passed, I can confidently say his predictions have come true.
AI is reshaping how we live and work. For contractors, it offers three simple yet powerful ways to boost productivity, enhance collaboration, and save significant time.
1. Enhancing Proposal Development
Creating proposals in response to RFPs or RFQs can be time-consuming. With AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity, contractors can simplify this process dramatically. By inputting the RFP question, some background information, and your ideas—whether it's about project approach, value engineering, or team selection—AI can generate a well-structured, engaging draft in seconds.
This initial draft can serve as a starting point for further refinement, saving hours of brainstorming and writing. Even team members without extensive construction knowledge can use AI to kickstart the proposal process, freeing senior staff to focus on other priorities.
Looking ahead, it’s likely that software like MS Publisher and InDesign will integrate AI to automate entire proposal drafts, further streamlining this crucial task. As these tools learn your preferences, the quality of generated content will only improve.
2. Streamlining Writing Tasks
AI isn’t just for proposals—it can help craft and refine any written communication. Whether it’s difficult emails, contract language, or delay claim letters, AI can offer clear, professional, and tailored wording.
The key to effective results is providing detailed context. Examples of prompts include:
“Polish this email to make it more engaging.”
“Draft a contingency clause that includes these specific points…”
“Write a polite but firm delay letter explaining a three-day project setback.”
AI’s ability to adapt tone and style makes it a valuable tool for virtually any writing task.
3. Solving Technical Questions
AI excels at quickly answering complex technical queries. I’ve used it to tackle issues ranging from insurance clauses to building code requirements. Examples of prompts include:
“Explain how this indemnity clause impacts my project.”
“What are the minimum code requirements for windows in this jurisdiction?”
“Summarize the Flywheel concept from Good to Great.”
The instant, clear responses I’ve received have been immensely helpful in navigating technical challenges.
Conclusion
This article only scratches the surface of AI’s potential. Beyond text, AI can create images, presentations, and even podcasts. While it’s not infallible—crosschecking results is essential—I’ve found it to be highly reliable in most applications.
The future of the workplace will belong to those who embrace AI to amplify personal and organizational productivity. Contractors who harness this technology today will gain a competitive edge tomorrow.