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CAREERTIP: Construction Professionals should start treating AI like a new colleague

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t going away and construction professionals need to embrace it and start working with it as if it were a new colleague. Across all industries, including construction, the adoption of AI is rapidly gaining momentum. This is because technology has finally advanced to the point where it can handle the complex and unstructured data involved in construction projects. Experts predict that AI will continue to develop into what they call "composite AI." Construction professionals, however, have some concerns about adopting AI. These concerns include: Regulatory Framework: Construction professionals must ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and regulations. They must also protect themselves, as AI can be programmed with specific guidelines to produce desired outputs. Ethics : There are important legal and ethical issues to consider when using AI. For example, who is liable if something goes wrong? Who is responsible if a disaster occurs as

OPINION : Corruption has brought unethical construction industry practices

Construction Professional Zuko Peter expresses concern over the pervasive corruption that has become a significant challenge in the South African construction industry.

The unrestrained growth of the construction industry has exposed numerous flaws, largely due to the government's ineffectual role. Unqualified individuals have infiltrated the industry, like medical and legal professionals who engage in multiple practices without the necessary qualifications.

Furthermore, money laundering and pyramid schemes have exacerbated corruption, making it difficult to eradicate. Contractors are forced to pay bribes to secure tenders and receive payments for completed work.

To make matters worse, a 30% markup in contract amounts has been introduced to cater to criminal elements, such as mafias, who demand a share from contractors. This, coupled with price manipulation to accommodate selfish interests and profit margins, diverts funds that could have been generated legitimately through professional expertise.

In essence, this rampant corruption poisons the industry and perpetuates unethical practices, posing a significant threat to its integrity.

Zuko Peter - is a Construction Professional with a National Diploma in Building Engineering with over 12 yrs experience in various positions working on Civil and Building sector.

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