Contractors should prepare for humanoid construction robots

Contractors should start preparing for the emergence of humanoid robots in the construction industry, according to a new report from consulting firm McKinsey.

Fewer young people entering the field, skilled workers retiring, and a physically demanding environment, have led to a critical skilled labor crisis in the industry, the report says. The report also cites dismal gains in productivity over the last two decades, far below manufacturing and the overall economy.

Enter humanoid robots. “General-purpose robots could be useful in a range of construction activities, from moving heavy concrete blocks to welding and plumbing,” the report says. Embodied artificial intelligence, better physical component technology, and increasingly sophisticated AI models, could make robots more versatile and efficient.

Contractors should begin by examining where humanoid robots could fill in gaps and aid their businesses the most. “If humanoids do become a cost-effective solution, companies will want to move as fast as possible,” the report says.