by Charley Cormany, EfficiencyFirst CA Executive Director

How Contractors Can Use AI to Work Smarter

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is getting a lot of attention. Some see it as the next great thing, while others are concerned it may be the end of humanity. Like most new technologies, AI represents change, and for some, that’s enough to make it scary.

Contractors and computers can be like oil and water; they don’t mix. That said, it’s pretty hard to run a business without some ability to wrangle a computer. They might not be as fun as testing out your new titanium framing hammer, but computers and software can simplify your life.

AI can take this to the next level. AI is not magic — it is just another tool, and we need to embrace its strengths and be aware of its limitations.

You Need to Learn About and Embrace AI

The best way to think about AI is as a personal assistant. We all have aspects of our business that are necessary but not exciting. In the past, we may have hired an assistant to start or complete these tasks. Today, you can outsource many of these tasks to AI — though it’s essential that humans are always there to check the final steps.

I say this because AI is far from perfect, and as you start to use it, you need to realize that you need to check your work. There have been several high-profile cases where people made embarrassing mistakes that could have been avoided if they checked their work. AI can get you most of the way there, but you must review the results before sending them out the door.

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