Source: Pinsent Masons (Out-Law)

AI is already reshaping design, construction and risk management in Singapore's built environment, but adoption in the construction sector is constrained by data access, governance and skills gaps. A roundtable held in Pinsent Masons’ Singapore office convened industry stakeholders to assess current AI use and persistent barriers to realising transformative AI benefits. Singapore has issued successive model AI governance frameworks—initially in 2019 and updated in 2020—released a generative AI framework in May 2024 and unveiled a model framework for agentic AI in January 2026, and has established a National AI Council alongside recent labour-policy changes. The government introduced a new longer-duration work permit for AI and technology professionals that will take effect in January 2027 and run for five years.

Stakeholders reported confusion between existing BIM and project-management tools and newer generative AI capabilities, and highlighted a distinct lack of large, reliable construction-specific datasets. Engineering and construction firms often hold valuable data but are reluctant to share it due to confidentiality concerns, limiting collaboration; many firms are developing proprietary models yet still lack sufficient global data for meaningful testing and training. From a governance perspective, clearer processes are needed to control AI across projects and supply chains in a safety-critical industry where limited digital literacy remains an obstacle. Questions persist around data quality, data-sharing, accountability, contractual allocation of risk and intellectual property. Insurers observed that errors occur whether a design is human- or AI-produced and suggested AI might improve risk assessment and pricing given insurers' large datasets; they currently appear neutral on AI increasing liability. The roundtable stressed that AI adoption must remain human-centred, with professionals retaining judgment and responsibility while AI acts as an enabler for safer, more sustainable projects.