Why does homebuilding struggle to become faster, less expensive and more responsive to what occupants need? In his opening keynote at PCBC 2026, The Way We’ll Build Next: AI & the End of Chain Drain, Greg Lindsay examined this question through the relationship between artificial intelligence, construction and real estate.
Delivered on 28 July 2026 in Chula Vista, California, the keynote drew on research and interviews with builders, technologists and start-ups. Rather than treating AI as a universal solution, Lindsay considered where it is already producing practical results, where expectations may be overstated and what must change within the industry before technology can deliver meaningful operational improvements.
What Does “Chain Drain” Mean in Construction?
“Chain drain” is Lindsay’s term for the loss of information, time and value as a building project moves through a fragmented supply chain. Architects, engineers, builders, regulators and property operators may use different systems, business models and data formats. At every handover, information can be delayed, translated incorrectly or lost.
Local regulations add another layer of complexity. Requirements can vary substantially between jurisdictions, making it difficult to standardise processes or achieve the scale found in industries such as automotive manufacturing.
In his preview of the keynote, Lindsay contrasted homebuilding with automotive manufacturing. Car manufacturers benefit from vertically integrated production systems and receive ongoing performance data from vehicles. Buildings, by comparison, are commonly delivered through separate organisations, and useful feedback may stop once a property is completed and occupied.
Where AI May Help—and Where It Cannot
Lindsay’s argument is not that AI can repair the construction industry on its own. Fragmented responsibilities, inconsistent regulation and disconnected business models are structural issues. Technology cannot remove them simply by automating individual tasks.
AI may, however, help reduce friction at specific points in the process. Examples discussed in Lindsay’s keynote preview included automated permit review and the use of live construction-site data to improve operational decisions. AI may also help teams translate between different data formats, identify missing information and retain knowledge as a project moves from design to engineering, construction and operation.
The distinction matters. Applying AI to an inefficient process may only accelerate the existing inefficiency. Property and construction leaders therefore need to identify where information is being lost before deciding which technology to introduce.
Questions for Real Estate and Construction Leaders
Lindsay’s “chain drain” framework gives industry leaders a practical way to examine their operations. Relevant questions include:
- At which handovers does project information most frequently become incomplete, delayed or inconsistent?
- Which decisions are repeatedly made without access to earlier project data?
- Could permitting, documentation or compliance reviews be made more efficient without weakening oversight?
- What operational information is collected during construction, and who can use it?
- Does data from completed and occupied buildings inform future design and development decisions?
- Is an AI initiative addressing a defined operational problem, or is it being introduced without changing the underlying process?
These questions shift the discussion away from adopting AI for its own sake. The more useful objective is to strengthen connections across the building lifecycle and improve how organisations learn from completed projects.
Relevance for Real Estate and Built-Environment Audiences
Lindsay’s perspective is relevant to developers, architects, engineers, construction leaders, investors, planners and policymakers considering how technology may affect the way buildings are designed, approved, delivered and operated.
For conference and corporate-event audiences, the subject connects AI strategy with a recognisable operational challenge: the built environment involves many organisations, but they do not always share information effectively. By examining both the possibilities and limitations of AI, Lindsay provides a framework for discussing where change may be practical and where deeper structural reform is still required.
To enquire about Greg Lindsay for a conference, leadership meeting or corporate event, contact Speakers Connect at info@speakersconnect.com.