AI Construction News

Construction autonomy is rapidly advancing, showcasing impressive operational capabilities at CES 2026 from industry giants like Caterpillar, Doosan, and Oshkosh. While autonomous vehicles grab headlines, this "blue collar autonomy"— encompassing construction, agriculture, and mining—is delivering tangible value now. The drivers behind this push include addressing skilled labor shortages, attracting a tech-savvy workforce, boosting safety, increasing capital utilization, and optimizing processes through data-driven insights. Unlike self-driving cars that navigate complex public roads, these advancements thrive in controlled environments with lower regulatory hurdles, allowing for faster implementation and demonstrable results.

The technology on display included Caterpillar's CAT AI Assistant, an AI agent powered by a large language model, designed to assist with equipment operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This tool helps less experienced workers by providing accessible knowledge in-cab, in-field, or remotely, reducing training time and improving safety. Meanwhile, Oshkosh highlighted their "moments of autonomy" approach, demonstrating JLG scissor lifts equipped with end effectors and sensors performing precise, coordinated tasks like welding and lifting heavy beams at heights. This approach augments human skills by automating the most complex and dangerous aspects of the job, leading to safer, more efficient operations on the jobsite of the future.

Caterpillar is deepening its partnership with NVIDIA to bring next-generation AI capabilities to its construction, mining, and power equipment, with plans for AI-enhanced products and manufacturing systems. The collaboration leverages NVIDIA's Jetson Thor platform to enable real-time AI inference on Caterpillar's machinery, paving the way for smarter, more autonomous operation in the field. The benefits for construction professionals include intelligent in-cab AI assistants providing personalized insights, real-time coaching, and safety alerts, as well as AI-driven autonomy that allows equipment to navigate complex jobsites by processing billions of data points in milliseconds.

The partnership also extends to Caterpillar's manufacturing processes. By using NVIDIA's AI Factory, Caterpillar aims to create safer, leaner, and more resilient manufacturing systems. Digital twins of factories, built on NVIDIA's Omniverse platform, will enable the design, simulation, and optimization of layouts and production processes before physical construction. Furthermore, the Cat AI Assistant, powered by NVIDIA Riva, will provide voice-activated access to equipment information, maintenance guidance, and troubleshooting support, streamlining operations and improving decision-making on the job site. This comprehensive integration of AI promises to revolutionize how Caterpillar equipment is designed, manufactured, and operated.