Once confined to science fiction, artificial intelligence has rapidly become a central force in transforming how commercial spaces, including schools, hospitals, and retail stores, are designed and operated. As commercial properties face mounting pressure to reduce emissions, lower operating costs, and ensure occupant safety, AI is stepping in—not as a shiny add-on—but as a strategic imperative. According to Honeywell’s recent “AI in Buildings” study, 84% of building decision-makers plan to increase AI deployment in 2025 to optimize building operations, indicating a definitive move and desire toward intelligent infrastructure.
From predictive maintenance to real-time energy management and tenant safety, AI applications have moved beyond experimentation, solidifying themselves as a fundamental piece of building strategy. However, integration isn’t without its challenges, particularly in the form of skilled talent shortages to manage advanced systems.
Smart Systems, Smarter Buildings
Today’s commercial buildings operate more like smart ecosystems than static structures. AI platforms continuously gather, analyze, and act on real-time information from HVAC systems, lighting, occupancy sensors, and more. This allows building operators to spot anomalies, reduce downtime, and anticipate repairs before breakdowns occur.
Machine learning algorithms can recognize usage patterns to help enhance efficiency and reduce waste. Digital twins—virtual replicas of buildings—enable centralized control and simulation-based decision-making. With AI, facilities teams can fine-tune ventilation during peak hours or automatically dim lighting in unoccupied areas, all while maintaining tenant comfort and operational agility. And according to Honeywell’s recent study, 58% of commercial buildings already leverage AI for predictive maintenance, helping bridge the gap between shrinking facilities staff and rising complexity.
Efficient Intelligence with AI
As efficiency mandates tighten amid an evolving regulatory landscape, AI acts as a powerful ally as commercial building operators seek to bring their buildings into the next era of operational excellence. Smart systems provide hyper-granular insights into energy usage and environmental performance. With AI, buildings can track vital metrics like water consumption and automatically adjust based on occupancy trends, helping allow for reduced waste and maximized comfort. These capabilities are not only found in the factories of e-commerce giants—they’re being used within landmarks too.
From Manpower to Machine Learning: Tackling the Workforce Gap
Despite its undeniable promise, AI adoption in commercial real estate is hindered by a growing talent gap. In Honeywell’s study, 92% of respondents cited difficulty in hiring skilled staff capable of managing advanced building technologies, stalling critical building operations advancements.
But AI isn’t replacing people—it’s empowering them. By automating repetitive tasks like system checks or temperature adjustments, AI allows facilities staff to focus on higher-value work such as strategic planning and tenant engagement. In response to these new technological capabilities, companies are responding with new approaches to workforce development. Forward-thinking facilities teams are prioritizing AI tools that are both powerful and intuitive, bridging the gap between technical complexity and day-to-day usability.
AI is no longer optional. It’s the key to staying competitive, compliant, and cost-efficient in the modern built environment. Yet, as Honeywell’s study underscores, true success hinges, in equal parts, on the technology and the people using it.
Those who invest now in connected platforms, intuitive tools, and workforce empowerment will be best equipped to navigate new regulations, increasing energy constraints, and shifting expectations—leading the charge into the next generation of smart building innovation.
