Only 8% of Capital Program Leaders Report Significant Value From AI Investments, New Kahua Research Finds

Study reveals a gap between AI adoption and measurable returns, highlighting the need for connected systems and trusted data

ATLANTA - October 14, 2026 - Kahua® today released The 2026 Capital Program Maturity Report, revealing a significant gap between artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and measurable value in capital program management. The research found that 84% of surveyed organizations use general-purpose AI tools, yet only 8% report significant measurable value from their AI investments.

"The research highlights the difference between having access to AI and actually putting it to work," said Sophie Planken-Bichler, industry analyst at Verdantix. "The construction environment today relies on multiple systems, data points and workflows, so if project information is inconsistent, AI works from those same limitations."

Fragmentation remains a challenge to realizing AI's full potential. Only 4% of surveyed organizations operate in a fully connected systems environment, while just 16% are very confident in the accuracy and timeliness of their project and portfolio data. Poor data quality, security concerns and difficulty trusting AI outputs further complicate efforts to scale AI across capital programs.

The research also points to a shift in technology investment priorities as organizations seek to address fragmented systems and data. While only 22% of respondents currently have a system of record spanning the full project lifecycle, more than half (58%) of respondents are moving toward reducing the number of systems they operate or consolidating onto a unified platform.

"Construction has spent decades digitizing individual processes and introducing more solutions, but technology alone doesn't solve problems," said Scott Unger, CEO of Kahua. "For too long, owners have faced an inherent imbalance in access to and control over their project data. A trusted system of record helps correct that imbalance, giving owners and their teams the visibility and control they need while establishing the foundation for native AI to deliver meaningful value."

Commissioned by Kahua and independently researched by Verdantix, the report draws on 50 quantitative survey interviews and five in-depth interviews with capital program leaders across the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Read the findings and access The 2026 Capital Program Maturity Report at kahua.com /capital-program-maturity-report/.