In an office tower in the heart of the city, the HVAC system adjusts in real time to fluctuations in occupancy, ensuring optimal comfort without wasting energy. AI-powered security cameras analyse movement patterns and flag any anomalies long before they escalate into incidents. Meanwhile, a predictive maintenance system integrated into the building’s infrastructure detects a minor plumbing irregularity and issues an alert—averting a costly pipe burst. Although this scenario might seem futuristic, it is closer to reality than ever.

Honeywell recently published findings from its AI in Buildings study, which surveyed 250 U.S. building managers and senior decision makers from a range of building types, including offices, hospitals, airports, schools, universities, hotels and data centres. Respondents were required to use AI-enabled property management systems in buildings with more than 250 occupants.

A key finding is that 84% of commercial building decision makers intend to increase their use of AI in the coming year. As AI becomes ever more prevalent, building managers are focusing specifically on three critical areas: maintenance, security and energy efficiency.