Global survey reveals slow AI adoption across the construction industry

RICS has published its 2025 report on AI in Construction, offering a global snapshot of how the built-environment sector views AI integration. The findings draw on over 2,200 survey responses from professionals across geography and disciplines.

The report finds that AI adoption remains limited: 45 percent of organisations report no AI use, and just under 12 percent say AI is used regularly in specific workflows. Fewer than 1 percent have AI embedded across multiple processes.

Preparedness is also low. While some firms are exploring AI, most have yet to move beyond early discussions. Only about 20 percent are engaged in strategic planning or proof-of-concept pilots, and very few have budgeted implementation roadmaps.

Despite this, confidence in AI is strong. Professionals see the most significant potential in progress monitoring, scheduling, resource optimisation, contract review and risk management. Over the next five years, many expect the most critical impact in design optioneering, where AI could help evaluate multiple alternatives in early project phases.

The survey also flags key barriers: lack of skilled personnel (46 percent), integration with existing systems (37 percent), data quality and availability (30 percent), and high implementation costs (29 percent).

To overcome these challenges, RICS recommends a coordinated roadmap with leadership from industry, government support, ethical guardrails, workforce upskilling, shared data standards and transparent pilot projects.

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Few Americans rely on AI chatbots for news

A recent Pew Research survey shows that relatively few Americans use AI chatbots like ChatGPT to get news. About 2 percent say they often get news this way, and 7 percent say they do so sometimes.

The majority of US adults thus do not turn to AI chatbots as a regular news source, signalling a limited role for chatbots in news dissemination, at least for now.

However, this finding is part of a broader pattern: despite the growing usage of chatbots, news consumption via these tools remains in the niche. Pew’s data also shows that 34 percent of US adults report using ChatGPT, which has roughly doubled since 2023.

While AI chatbots are not yet mainstream for news, their limited uptake raises questions about trust, accuracy and the user motivation behind news consumption.

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Meta to use AI interactions for content and ad recommendations

Meta has announced that beginning 16 December 2025, it will start personalising content and ad recommendations on Facebook, Instagram and other apps using users’ interactions with its generative AI features.

The update means that if you chat with Meta’s AI about a topic, such as hiking, the system may infer your interests and show related content, including posts from hiking groups or ads for boots. Meta emphasises that content and ad recommendations already use signals like likes, shares and follows, but the new change adds AI interactions as another signal.

Meta will notify users starting 7 October via in-app messages and emails to maintain user control. Users will retain access to settings such as Ads Preferences and feed controls to adjust what they see. Meta says it will not use sensitive AI chat content (religion, health, political beliefs, etc.) to personalise ads.

If users have linked those accounts in Meta’s Accounts Centre, interactions with AI on particular accounts will only be used for cross-account personalisation. Also, unless a WhatsApp account is added to the same Accounts Centre, AI interactions won’t influence experience in other apps.

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Breakthrough platform gives warning of painful sickle cell attacks

A London-based health tech firm has developed an AI platform that can predict painful sickle cell crises before they occur. Sanius Health says its system forecasts vaso-occlusive crises with up to 92% sensitivity, offering patients and clinicians valuable lead time.

The technology combines biometric data from wearables with patient-reported outcomes and clinical records to generate daily risk scores. Patients and care teams receive alerts when thresholds are met, enabling early action to prevent hospitalisation.

In real-world studies involving nearly 400 patients, the AI system identified measurable changes in activity and sleep days before emergencies. Patients using the platform reported fewer admissions, shorter stays, and improved quality of life.

The World Health Organisation says sickle cell disease affects almost eight million people worldwide. Sanius Health is scaling its registry-driven model globally to ensure predictive care reaches patients from London to Lagos and beyond.

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Dutch AI actress ignites Hollywood backlash

An AI ‘actress’ created in the Netherlands has sparked controversy across the global film industry. Tilly Norwood, designed by Dutch actress Eline van der Velde, is capable of talking, waving, and crying, and is reportedly being pitched to talent agencies.

Hollywood unions and stars have voiced strong objections. US-based SAG-AFTRA said Norwood was trained on the work of professional actors without life experience or human emotion, warning that its use could undermine existing contracts.

Actresses Natasha Lyonne and Emily Blunt also criticised the Dutch project, with Lyonne calling for a boycott of agencies working with Norwood, and Blunt describing it as ‘really scary’.

Van der Velde defended her AI creation, describing Norwood as a piece of art rather than a replacement for performers. She argued the project should be judged as a new genre rather than compared directly to human actors.

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Germany invests €1.6 billion in AI but profits remain uncertain

In 2025 alone, €1.6 billion is being committed to AI in Germany as part of its AI action plan.

The budget, managed by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, has grown more than twentyfold since 2017, underlining Berlin’s ambition to position the country as a European hub for AI.

However, experts warn that the financial returns remain uncertain. Rainer Rehak of the Weizenbaum Institute argues that AI lacks a clear business model, calling the current trend an ‘investment game’ fuelled by speculation.

He cautioned that if real profits do not materialise, the sector could face a bubble similar to past technology hype cycles. Even OpenAI chief Sam Altman has warned of unsustainable levels of investment in AI.

Germany faces significant challenges in computing capacity. A study by the eco Internet Industry Association found that the country’s infrastructure may only expand to 3.7 gigawatts by 2030, while demand from industry could exceed 12 gigawatts.

Deloitte forecasts a capacity gap of around 50% within five years, with the US already maintaining more than twenty times Germany’s capacity. Without massive new investments in data centres, Germany risks lagging further behind.

Some analysts believe the country needs a different approach. Professor Oliver Thomas of Osnabrück University argues that while large-scale AI models are struggling to find profitability, small and medium-sized enterprises could unlock practical applications.

He advocates for speeding up the cycle from research to commercialisation, ensuring that AI is integrated into industry more quickly.

Germany has a history of pioneering research in fields such as computer technology, MP3, and virtual and augmented reality, but much of the innovation was commercialised abroad.

Thomas suggests focusing less on ‘made in Germany’ AI models and more on leveraging existing technologies from global providers, while maintaining digital sovereignty through strong policy frameworks.

Looking ahead, experts see AI becoming deeply integrated into the workplace. AI assistants may soon handle administrative workflows, organise communications, and support knowledge-intensive professions.

Small teams equipped with these tools could generate millions in revenue, reshaping the country’s economic landscape.

Germany’s heavy spending signals a long-term bet on AI. But with questions about profitability, computing capacity, and competition from the US, the path forward will depend on whether investments can translate into sustainable business models and practical use cases across the economy.

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Adobe Premiere debuts free mobile app for iPhone users

The US software company, Adobe, has launched a free version of its Premiere video-editing software for iPhone, bringing professional-level tools to mobile creators. The app is now available worldwide in Apple’s App Store, with an Android release still in development.

A new mobile Premiere app that allows users to edit videos on a multi-track timeline, enhance audio with AI-powered sound effects, and create studio-quality voiceovers. It also offers millions of free multimedia assets, including images, fonts, stickers, and audio files.

Projects can be exported directly to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, with the app automatically adjusting video sizes for each platform.

Users can start editing on the iPhone app and then transfer their projects to Premiere Pro on a desktop for more advanced refinements. Adobe has also integrated its generative AI, enabling features such as backdrop expansion, image-to-video conversion, and custom AI stickers.

While the app is free, upgrades are available for additional storage and generative credits.

The launch highlights Adobe’s push to make professional editing more accessible to streamers, podcasters, and vloggers.

By blending mobile flexibility with cross-platform collaboration, the company aims to empower creators to produce high-quality content anytime and anywhere.

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Grok controversies shadow Musk’s new Grokipedia project

Elon Musk has announced that his company xAI is developing Grokipedia, a planned Wikipedia rival powered by its Grok AI chatbot. He described the project as a step towards achieving xAI’s mission of understanding the universe.

In a post on X, Musk called Grokipedia a ‘necessary improvement over Wikipedia,’ renewing his criticism of the platform’s funding model and what he views as ideological bias. He has long accused Wikimedia of leaning left and reflecting ‘woke’ influence.

Despite Musk’s efforts to position Grok as a solution to bias, the chatbot has occasionally turned on its creator. Earlier this year, it named Musk among the people doing the most harm to the US, alongside Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The Grok 4 update also drew controversy when users reported that the chatbot praised and adopted the surname of a controversial historical figure in its responses, sparking criticism of its safety. Such incidents raised questions about the limits of Musk’s oversight.

Grok is already integrated into X as a conversational assistant, providing context and explanations in real time. Musk has said it will power the platform’s recommendation algorithm by late 2025, allowing users to customise their feeds dynamically through direct requests.

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Europe urged to seize AI opportunity through action

Europe faces a pivotal moment to lead in AI, potentially boosting GDP by over €1.2 trillion, according to Google’s Kent Walker. Urgent action is needed to close the gap between ambition and implementation.

Complex EU regulations, with over 100 new digital rules since 2019, hinder businesses, costing an estimated €124 billion annually. Simplifying these, as suggested by Mario Draghi’s report, could unlock €450 billion in AI-driven growth.

Focused, balanced policies must prioritise real-world AI impacts without stifling progress.

Skilling Europe’s workforce is crucial for AI adoption, with only 14% of EU firms using generative AI compared to 83% in China. Google’s initiatives, like its €15 million AI Opportunity Fund, support digital training. Public-private partnerships can scale these efforts, creating new job categories.

Scaling AI demands secure, dependable tools and ongoing momentum. Google’s AlphaFold and GNoME fuel advances in biology and materials science, while partnerships with European companies safeguard data sovereignty. Joint efforts will help Europe lead globally in AI.

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Portugal to bring AI into bureaucracy to save time

The Portuguese government is preparing to bring AI into public administration to accelerate licensing procedures and cut delays, according to State Reform Minister Gonçalo Matias.

Speaking at a World Tourism Day conference in Tróia, he said AI can play a key role in streamlining decision-making while maintaining human oversight at the final stage.

Matias explained that the reform will reallocate staff from routine tasks to work of higher value, while introducing a system of prior notifications.

Under the plan, citizens and businesses in Portugal will be allowed to begin most activities without a licence, with tacit approval granted if the administration fails to respond within set deadlines.

The minister said the reforms will be tied to strict accountability measures, emphasising a ‘trust contract’ between citizens, businesses and the public administration. He argued the initiative will not only speed up processes but also foster greater efficiency and responsibility across government services.

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