"We built entire cities using PDFs and drawings. That's not a failure — that's a miracle. Now imagine what we build with the right tools."
In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Alain Waha, CTO at BuroHappold Engineering, discussing AI transformation, the future of physical AI, and why 2026 already feels like three years have passed in nine weeks.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why construction being the least digitized industry is actually its biggest opportunity right now
✅ How AI is finally solving the Tower of Babel problem that's plagued AEC for decades
✅ Why firms need to choose — compete on cost or build a value brand — before it's too late
✅ Why foundational AI models for the physical world don't exist yet, and what it'll take to get there
Catch the full episode on Spotify and YouTube 🎙️
#aec #bricksandbytes #construction #constructiontech #ai
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:10 Introduction and Context of Rapid Change
06:38 Industry Size and Structure
12:29 Historical Perspective on Technology in AEC
17:56 The Tower of Babel Problem in AEC
23:33 Navigating the Future of Work
28:12 Value Creation in a Changing Landscape
32:37 Enhancing the Built Environment with Technology
37:18 The Future of Construction: A Digital Transformation
43:02 Cultural Shifts in Engineering and Technology Adoption
51:46 Knowledge Transfer and the Future of AI in Construction
