Charting an AI-Enabled Future of Construction

The Canadian construction industry is at a tipping point. We are standing on the edge of an unprecedented transformation, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), that could redefine how we design, build and maintain our buildings and infrastructure.

As demands on the construction industry evolve and the pressure to build faster, safer, and more sustainably intensifies, the need for data-driven decision-making has never been greater. Yet, the full potential of AI in construction remains largely untapped, not because the technology isn’t ready, but because our systems, relationships, and ways of working have not yet evolved to support it.

No single company, research lab or government body can solve this in isolation. Therefore, we need a coordinated effort across the industry to create data-sharing frameworks that balance privacy, security, and competitive interests so that innovation can scale across the entire industry.

In July 2025, participants from across Canada’s AEC sector, including contractors, engineers, technology innovators, researchers, and policymakers, came together for the Construction Bytes Workshop, sponsored by the National Research Council of Canada and Autodesk Research, and facilitated by Yeji Data Lab. The goal was bold: to collaboratively explore how data sharing, governance, and AI can reshape productivity, trust, and innovation across the sector.

What emerged was more than just a conversation. It was a blueprint for progress, grounded in real operational pain points, shared industry values, and a growing appetite for collaboration. This white paper captures the outcomes of that workshop, the case studies that inspired new thinking, and the key barriers and opportunities facing the sector today.