Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is no longer a far-off concept for electrical contractors. It’s already embedded in daily workflows, from drafting emails and generating meeting minutes to reviewing contracts. While A.I. is gaining traction in the office, its practical use on the job site remains limited.

Two recent reports from ELECTRI International*, “Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) for the Electrical Construction Industry,” released in January 2025, and the “Artificial Intelligence Implementation Roadmap for Electrical Contractors,” released in May, clarify what electrical contractors can realistically expect from A.I. today, and where it’s smart to proceed with caution.

The most reliable A.I. use cases are in administration and support functions. Contractors are finding real efficiency gains in automating mundane tasks, such as writing, job postings, safety documentation and marketing content. These tools enhance productivity and reduce time spent on repetitive work.

A.I. transcription tools such as Otter.AI and Co-Pilot have also proven to be highly effective, streamlining post-meeting documentation such as meeting minutes and summaries. This frees up time for project teams to focus on execution rather than paperwork.

Contract management such as Document Crunch is another area seeing returns. Tools that scan lengthy legal documents, highlight risk clauses and assist with contract edits help teams move faster while improving consistency. These applications are helping contractors speed up review cycles without eliminating the need for final human oversight.

Despite its obvious usefulness, A.I. isn’t a fit for every workflow—especially those that involve high variability, judgment or stakes.

Generating project bids, purchase orders or material quotes using A.I. remains risky. A.I. tools can miscalculate quantities, overlook critical project details or fail to adapt to fluctuating vendor pricing. These missteps or hallucinations can quickly erode trust and margin, they can also generate costly mistakes, affecting a company’s bottom line.

A.I. is also not well suited to replace decision-making in areas like recruitment or finance. Current tools lack the nuance and accountability required for tasks involving compliance, ethics or strategic analysis. A.I. also falls short when accounting for personality and creativity when reviewing potential applicants during the hiring process.

Some of the largest barriers to wider A.I. adoption in electrical construction are data quality and training. A.I. systems need structured, consistent and labeled data to produce reliable outputs, something many contractors are only beginning to organize.

Equally important is staff training. Keep in mind that A.I. is a tool, and just like physical tools, employees need to be trained. Without a clear understanding of how to prompt, validate and supervise A.I., even mature platforms can lead to poor results. Misuse or over-reliance on A.I. creates more risk than reward. Security concerns are also a factor, though industry experts suggest the real risk lies in how the tools are used, not in the tools themselves. Proper training and governance make secure A.I. use achievable for most firms.

While A.I. may not yet be field-ready in many areas, the next generation of tools is already in development. A.I.-assisted scheduling, predictive safety analytics and automated takeoff tools for estimating are expected to mature over the next 2–5 years. In the meantime, contractors should be encouraged to treat A.I. like a high-potential apprentice: it can accelerate productivity and support decision-making, but it still needs supervision and experience to perform reliably.

A.I. is proving itself as a valuable support tool, reducing the time and effort required for documentation, communication and basic analytics. It is not, however, ready to replace skilled labor, strategic judgment or decision-making based on life experience, especially on the job site.

Contractors that embrace A.I. with realistic expectations, structured training and clear governance will be best positioned to lead the industry into the next phase of digital construction.

*Editor’s Note: To download the reports, you will need to create a free account with ELECTRI International or log in to your existing account.