How generative AI could help make construction sites safer

Generative AI tools like DroneDeploy's Safety AI are being deployed on hundreds of construction sites to detect OSHA violations with 95% accuracy using visual language models. These systems analyze daily imagery to flag safety hazards, potentially saving lives in an industry where over 1,000 workers die annually. However, Institute Associate Professor Chen Feng notes challenges: "Ninety-five percent is encouraging — but how do we fix that remaining 5%?" He emphasizes that while VLMs show promise, they still struggle with spatial reasoning and edge cases, requiring human oversight for safety.