Time Machines & Robot Brick Layers

Time Machines & Robot Brick Layers

Author: Maryrose Lyons August 31, 2025 Duration: 26:00

What if AI could let you test a million building designs before laying a single brick? Or age a structure 50 years to see how climate change might affect it?

Sharon Richardson reveals how artificial intelligence is quietly revolutionising one of the world's oldest industries. From robots that lay tiles with surgical precision to AI systems that run thousands of design iterations in minutes, construction is getting a complete overhaul.


We also tackle the big question everyone's asking: does AI's energy appetite matter if it helps us slash the other 97% of global electricity use? Sharon breaks down the numbers that might surprise you.


In this episode:

  • Why AI feels like having an engineering time machine
  • The real energy cost of AI (it's smaller than you think)
  • How robots and humans will split construction work
  • Climate modelling that shows buildings decades into the future
  • Why the built environment shapes us as much as we shape it
  • Perfect for anyone curious about AI's practical impact beyond the he


Smart, grounded, and refreshingly honest, this is a must-listen for leaders shaping the future of cities, sustainability, and innovation.


You can connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonr/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Maryrose Lyons brings her experience from the AI Institute to Chatting GPT, a podcast that digs into the practical realities of artificial intelligence. Instead of theoretical discussions, these are grounded conversations with the directors, founders, and strategists who are implementing AI solutions right now. You’ll hear from people who have moved their organizations beyond pilot projects into genuine transformation, sharing what worked, what didn’t, and why. The focus often lands on the built environment-exploring how AI is actively reshaping design processes, construction methodologies, and facility management from the studio to the job site. This series is built on the premise that the most valuable lessons come from those with hands-on experience. Each episode unpacks the human decisions behind the technology, offering tangible insights for professionals in technology, business, and education who are navigating their own courses. By listening to this podcast, you gain access to a rare dialogue about applied intelligence, where the conversation is always rooted in real-world execution and impact.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 43

Chatting GPT
Podcast Episodes
Maryrose Lyons and Lollie Mancey on the Future of Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:29
Let's start with Human!In this first episode, we are delighted to have Dr Lollie Mancey, leading digital anthropologist, discussing the impact of AI on the world of work and the importance of human involvement in the pro…
Chatting GPT Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:33
Introducing Chatting GPT - a new podcast series, hosted by Maryrose Lyons of the AI Institute that covers the fascinating and fast moving world of Generative AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio…