Building Automation Industry Must Stop Treating AI Like a New Phenomenon
The building automation industry has been using AI for nearly a decade, but it seems like the technology is still being treated as a new phenomenon. According to AutomatedBuildings.com, AI has been embedded in control systems since the early 2000s, with examples including Honeywell's 'iPID' and Siemens' BuildingX. The article highlights how some industry professionals are still obsessed with governance and trust issues related to AI, despite it already being operational in many buildings.
The author of the article, Keith, argues that it's time to move past the debate and focus on execution. He cites Facil.AI as an example of a company that has already implemented AI agents across millions of square feet, achieving efficiency gains of 30-50% by optimizing central plants.
Keith emphasizes that the industry should stop treating AI like a mystery and start treating it as the new standard for operational excellence. He lists three key areas where AI can bring value: efficiency, safety and reliability, and value. The author concludes that the enterprise AI gold rush is over, and it's time to focus on implementation.