AI becomes increasingly embedded in project delivery, new APM research reveals

Project professionals across the UK are rapidly embedding artificial intelligence (AI) into their day-to-day work, transforming how projects are planned, delivered and managed, according to new research from APM, conducted in partnership with Censuswide.

The survey of 1,000 project professionals highlights widespread adoption of AI tools across sectors including construction, engineering, financial services, manufacturing, technology, and transport and logistics - with applications ranging from administrative automation to advanced decision support and risk forecasting.

AI moving from experimentation to integration into workflow

Findings from the research show that over a quarter (27%) of project professionals across industry sectors say that AI is fully embedded into their workflows and is used to support a wide range of activities including:

Predicting project outcomes and improving forecasting accuracy (25%)
Supporting decision support through data-driven insights (24%)
Administrative support (summarising documents, etc) (23%)
Enhancing risk forecasting and mitigation strategies (22%)
Improving reporting and dashboard creation (22%)
Assisting with resource allocation (21%)
Research purposes (21%)
Supporting task scheduling (18%)

This breadth of use signals a clear shift: AI is evolving from a productivity tool into a strategic capability underpinning project delivery.

Sector-specific AI adoption

The research also reveals distinct patterns in how AI is being applied across industries:

Construction: 28% of project professionals working in this sector say AI is fully embedded into their project workflows. Professionals are increasingly using AI to support planning, scheduling, and risk forecasting, helping to manage complexity and cost pressures in large-scale projects.

Engineering: 25% of project professionals working in the sector say that AI is now fully embedded into their workflows. AI is being integrated into technical workflows by the need for precision and performance. AI is supporting predictive modelling, risk forecasting and project decision support, systems optimisation, and enhanced data interpretation - particularly in complex engineering environments where large data sets are central to decision-making

Technology: 23% of project professionals working in the sector say that AI is fully embedded into project workflows. As expected, this sector leads in both adoption and experimentation, with AI embedded across multiple stages of the project lifecycle.

Transport and logistics: 21% of project professionals working in the sector say that AI is now fully embedded into workflows. AI in the sector is supporting operational efficiency, particularly in resource allocation and real-time decision-making.

Financial Services: 24% of project professionals in the sector say that AI is fully embedded in project workflow. AI is being used to enhance decision-making, strengthen risk management, and improve delivery efficiency. AI is being applied to analyse large volumes data, enabling more accurate forecasting and better-informed project decisions, as well as supporting regulatory compliance and risk identification.

These variations underline how AI adoption is being shaped by sector-specific challenges and opportunities, while still delivering universal benefits in efficiency and insight.

Confidence in AI is high - but skills gaps remain

A key finding from the research is the high level of confidence project professionals have in using AI. Overall, 92% of respondents report feeling confident that their current skill set is aligned with the changing demands of an AI-enabled workplace, including nearly half (45%) who describe themselves as “very confident”.

However, this confidence sits alongside an increasing recognition that more advanced skills are needed to fully realise AI’s potential. When asked which skills are becoming the most critical for project managers to succeed for the future, the top-ranking responses were:

Ethical decision-making and professional judgement (33%)
Data literacy and AI-enabled decision-making (33%)
Leadership in remote and hybrid environments (33%)
Stakeholder engagement and relationship management (32%)
Technical project management tools and methods (30%)

This highlights a growing need for structured learning to help project professionals move from basic use of AI tools to more sophisticated and responsible application.

Ethical considerations come into sharper focus

As AI becomes more embedded in project environments, ethical considerations are also rising up the agenda. Project professionals pointed to concerns around transparency, lack of accountability, and the reliability of AI-generated outputs.

In particular, issues such as understanding how AI-driven decisions are made, maintaining trust in outputs, erosion of creativity and authenticity and avoiding over-reliance on automated systems are becoming increasingly important. This reinforces the need for clear governance, professional standards, and ethical guidance as AI adoption accelerates.

APM launches prompt engineering learning module

To support its members, APM has launched a new learning module Prompt engineering for project professionals designed to equip project professionals with the skills needed to use AI effectively and responsibly:

Featuring videos of project professionals sharing their experiences and ideas, alongside practical activities, this three-part module covers:

How project managers are using AI in real-world scenarios
What prompt engineering is and why it is critical for project professionals
How to create effective prompts using the RACE and CRIT frameworks, as well as meta-prompting techniques
Ethical considerations in using prompt engineering
Practical use cases and expert tips from project professionals at companies including Gleeds and WSP.

The module is designed to bridge the gap between growing confidence in AI and the deeper expertise required to apply it strategically across complex project environments.