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AI in Project Delivery : Crafting Tomorrow's Capabilities

Unveiling This Week's Insights: From the National Audit Office's AI Strategy to Groundbreaking Developments in AI Regulation and Innovation.

This Week’s Wisdom: Tip of the Week

Tip of the Week

ChatGPT's Memory feature enhances personalisation by remembering user-shared details for more contextual conversations. To use, simply chat as usual, or specifically ask ChatGPT to remember certain facts. Managing this information is straightforward: view, add, or delete details via settings, ensuring a tailored interaction. For those concerned about privacy, options are available to limit how these memories contribute to future model training. This balance of personalisation and privacy introduces a new layer of utility and user control. For a detailed exploration, refer to WIRED's insightful article: How to Use ChatGPT’s Memory Feature.

A recent survey from Elon University reveals mixed feelings about AI's future impact. Over half of internet experts foresee AI negatively affecting human rights by 2040, with around 80% concerned about worsening privacy issues. Conversely, a positive outlook emerges regarding AI's role in daily tasks and shopping, with over 70% anticipating benefits in these personal life aspects.

Timeless Words: Quote of the Week

“The government recognises the need to attract and retain digital capability to support the adoption of AI. A range of initiatives have been announced with the aim of upskilling the existing workforce and building knowledge and capacity.”

National Audit Office - Use of Artificial Intelligence in Government

Great Scott: This Week's Big Thing in the Industry

Historic Regulation: EU Sets a Global Standard for AI
In a groundbreaking move, European lawmakers have endorsed the world's first significant legislation aimed at regulating artificial intelligence. This pioneering act represents a crucial step towards establishing a comprehensive framework for AI oversight, addressing ethical, privacy, and security concerns. With this legislation, the EU is positioning itself as a leader in setting global standards for the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

What You Need to Know This Week

AI has taken a monumental leap into software engineering with the introduction of Devin. Surpassing other AI like Claude 2 and GPT-4 in a popular SWE benchmark, Devin independently handled 13.9% of real-world software tasks. From crafting interactive websites to debugging and developing custom Chrome extensions, Devin showcases unparalleled coding prowess. Even more fascinating is its ability to scrape data, run complex codes, and refine AI models. This breakthrough heralds a new era in coding, promising to revolutionise software development practices. Learn more about Devin's capabilities on VentureBeat.

Flux Feed: Curating the Latest Industry News

AI in Construction and Project Delivery

AI is automating tasks, enhancing project management, revolutionising design, and improving various aspects of the construction industry. AI will not replace professionals in the AEC industry, but those who choose not to utilise AI will be left behind.

AI can help address staff and skills shortages, improve project outcomes, and drive growth. However, challenges such as skepticism, data quality, and the need for use cases remain. Despite these hurdles, embracing AI can transform the construction industry and lead to significant improvements in project outcomes.

Power BI is used by data analysts and professionals in various industries to create reports and forecasts. It offers advantages such as accessibility, integrations, customer support, customisation, collaboration, and scalability.

However, there are some disadvantages such as pricing tiers, resource consumption, and complex features. Power BI offers several key features including artificial intelligence, hybrid deployment support, quick insights, customisation, APIs for integration, and self-service data prep.

It has been regularly updated since its initial release in 2011. Power BI can connect with different data sources and is available in different versions such as Power BI Desktop, Power BI Pro, and Power BI Premium.

It is often compared to Excel, but Power BI offers more advanced analytics and visualisations. Power BI is used in various industries for analysing and reporting data.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has released a report on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in government. The report highlights the potential for AI to transform public services, but also raises concerns and risks that need to be addressed.

The government has started developing a strategy for AI adoption in the public sector, but it has not yet been finalised or published. The report emphasises the need for clear ownership and accountability, as well as a realistic plan for skills, funding, and other enablers to ensure the successful implementation of AI in government.

In this article, the author shares their experience using generative AI tools from a quantitative surveyor's perspective. They discuss the pros and cons of different tools and offer insights on how to get the most out of them.

The UK BIM Alliance has changed its name to nima to reflect its focus on wider information management challenges and engage with stakeholders in the construction industry. The organisation aims to promote the use of data-driven approaches to create and manage better whole-life outcomes in the built and natural environment.

This shift in focus is a response to the misconception that BIM is solely for design purposes and is primarily associated with the capital phase of projects.

An artificial intelligence health and safety system is being implemented at the Sellafield nuclear site in the UK to ensure workplace safety. The system uses AI cameras to detect human forms and provide a 360-degree view of the site.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise the planning profession by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and streamlining processes. However, it cannot replace human judgment and the need for democratic oversight.

Local authorities, companies, and individuals must invest in and adopt AI tools to stay competitive in the industry.

The design process for physical products is inefficient and error-prone, but emerging technologies such as AI have the potential to disrupt and improve the process. Technical breakthroughs and digitisation of supply chains are driving this paradigm shift in product design.

The future of design will involve generative systems handling manual tasks and engineers guiding outcomes, resulting in faster design timelines and higher quality designs. This disruption presents opportunities for startups in various engineering disciplines and manufacturing methods.

The goal is to create value by improving design quality and reducing design process costs. Ultimately, the use of AI in design will revolutionise the way physical products are created.

AI impact on work

Generative AI (GenAI) is set to reshape economies, potentially enhancing productivity growth by 50-100% in the next decade, inspired by historical technological disruptions. Lessons from past tech revolutions suggest GenAI's impact may initially lag but ultimately drive significant economic growth and labor market evolution, balancing job creation with displacement through new roles and skills​​. Check out this EY report.

Lord Evans has emphasised the importance of updating AI governance and ethical standards in the public sector in this letter. With rapid AI advancements, he outlines recommendations to harmonise ethical principles, ensure AI's compliance with laws, and improve regulatory frameworks. These steps aim to uphold high conduct standards as AI becomes increasingly integrated into public services.

Tech News

Microsoft is giving you the opportunity to try out Copilot Pro, their new AI-powered assistant, for free.

OpenAI's GPT , has been found to exhibit racial bias when ranking job candidates based on their names alone, according to a Bloomberg experiment. The analysis revealed that certain names associated with different racial or ethnic groups were disadvantaged in GPT's rankings, highlighting potential discrimination issues in AI-powered hiring tools.

This raises concerns about the fairness and reliability of such technologies in the recruitment process.

OpenAI has announced three new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Nicole Seligman, and Fidji Simo, along with the rejoining of Sam Altman.

These experienced leaders will contribute to overseeing OpenAI's growth and ensuring its mission of benefiting humanity with artificial general intelligence.

The highly anticipated Apple Car project has officially been canceled after a ten-year development period. While some employees will be shifted to other projects, others will be laid off.

However, this could mean that Apple is now able to focus on other areas, such as generative AI and software improvements.

During Apple's annual shareholders meeting, CEO Tim Cook announced that the company will be "breaking new ground" in generative AI in 2024, stating that it will unlock transformative opportunities for users. Cook has been vocal about Apple's investment and focus on AI in recent months.

Microsoft has added a new feature to Copilot Pro that allows users to create their own custom Copilot GPT chatbot. Users can create the chatbot without any coding or technical skills, and it can be kept private or shared with other Copilot users.

The feature is available for Copilot Pro subscribers.

Covariant, a robotics startup, is developing a chatbot with a robotic arm that can manipulate objects in the physical world. By combining large-scale machine learning models with video and motion data, the company hopes to create more flexible and capable robots.

Google has announced that it is restricting the types of election-related questions that its AI chatbot Gemini can answer in an effort to avoid controversy over AI technology. The move comes ahead of elections in various countries this year, including the US, the UK, and South Africa.

AI in Other Industries

Mathematicians at the Universities of Manchester and Oxford have developed an AI framework called CLASSIX that can identify and track new and concerning COVID-19 variants. The framework combines dimension reduction techniques and machine learning to quickly analyze huge volumes of viral genome data and identify potential risks.

This approach could improve efforts to identify and respond to emerging variants, including tailored vaccine development.

Princeton researchers have developed an AI that can predict and prevent a common problem, "tearing mode instabilities," during nuclear fusion reactions. The AI is fed data from past experiments and is trained to control the magnetic fields to maintain a stable fusion reaction.

Here is the latest Linked In Newsletter

Enchantment Under the AI: GPT of the Week

Creating slides with ChatGPT just got easier! If you're racing against time or need a starting point for your presentation, explore the Slide Creator GPT in ChatGPT. Simply upload your notes or type in your topic, and let Slide Creator do its magic, crafting a presentation for you. Whether you have detailed notes or just a topic in mind, this tool can generate a tailored slide deck swiftly. Afterward, saving your slides or downloading the full presentation is straightforward.

Explore Slide Creator GPT here for your next presentation needs.

The Almanac of AI: New Tools in the Tech Time Machine

Synaptiq.AI: Synaptiq.AI leverages the power of artificial intelligence to enhance business intelligence and analytics. By integrating AI into various processes, it aims to optimize decision-making and efficiency across different industries. Their solutions focus on transforming data into actionable insights. Visit Synaptiq.AI

Lych3e: Lych3e is a tool designed to simplify online research by organizing information from the web into easy-to-navigate maps. It's particularly useful for students, researchers, and anyone looking to streamline their information gathering process, making the vast amounts of data on the internet more accessible and manageable. Visit Lych3e

Event You Need to Know About

Pace of Change in AI, Data, and Analytics: Half-Day Seminar
Explore the accelerating pace of AI, its impact on project management, and the evolving landscape of AI technologies. This seminar on June 25, 2024, will delve into AI's opportunities, challenges, and implications for project professionals.
More Information

AI in Construction: Fringe Event
Discover how AI is revolutionising the construction industry on March 27, 2024. Hosted by Accenture, this event will showcase AI's potential in enhancing efficiency, decision-making, and resource optimisation in construction projects.
More Information

PMI UK Webinar: PMI Infinity - A Project Manager's Co-pilot
On April 8, 2024, uncover the capabilities of PMI Infinity as a supportive tool for project managers. This webinar will offer insights into how PMI Infinity can assist in enhancing project management practices.
More Information

Podcasts: Must-Subscribe List

This podcast episode dives into the world of artificial intelligence, discussing its current capabilities, ethical implications, and future possibilities. The speakers explore how AI is transforming various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and entertainment, while debating the balance between innovation and privacy concerns. It's a thought-provoking session that offers insights into how AI continues to shape our world. Watch the podcast

Meet Project Flux: About Us

At Project Flux, we're committed to pioneering the future of construction and project delivery through the lens of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence insights. Our vision is to be at the forefront of integrating AI into the fabric of project delivery, transforming how projects are conceptualised, planned, and executed.

About James Garner James Garner, the Senior Director at Gleeds and Global Head of Data, Insights & Analytics, is the driving force behind Project Flux. With his extensive experience in the field and a track record recognised by Data IQ 100 in 2023, James combines his expertise in data and project delivery with a passion for AI in project delivery.

Our Mission Project Flux aims to not only inform and educate but also to inspire professionals in the construction industry to embrace the transformative potential of AI. We believe in the power of AI to revolutionise project delivery, making it more efficient, predictive, and adaptable to the dynamic demands of the modern world.

What We Offer Through our insightful newsletters, curated content on LinkedIn, and engaging discussions, Project Flux serves as a resource for professionals seeking to stay ahead in their field. We offer a blend of practical advice, thought leadership, and the latest developments in AI and construction technology.

Connect with us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates. Together, let's shape the future of construction and project delivery!