RIYADH: Across the global construction sector, long considered one of the most resistant to digitization, a quiet revolution is unfolding.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a mere buzzword confined to laboratories and boardrooms. It is increasingly present in the urban fabric, embedded into scaffolding, concrete and command centers.

One company at the heart of this shift is viAct, a Hong Kong-based AI firm co-founded by Gary Ng and Hugo Cheuk. Their aim is to make construction safer, smarter and significantly more productive using a scenario-based AI engine built for complex, high-risk environments.

“Despite being one of the most labor-intensive and hazardous industries, construction remains vastly under-digitized,” Ng told Arab News. “We saw this as an opportunity to bring AI-driven automation and insights to frontline operations.

Unlike conventional surveillance tools that simply record footage, viAct’s platform acts like a digital foreman. It interprets real-time visual data to detect unsafe practices, productivity gaps and anomalies, all without human supervision.

At the core of the platform are intelligent video analytics powered by edge computing. By processing visuals from jobsite cameras and sensors, viAct can flag whether a worker has entered a restricted zone, whether proper personal protective equipment is being worn, or if a crane is operating unsafely.

“This is not just about object detection,” said Ng. “Our AI understands context. It recognizes behaviors — like a worker being too close to the edge without a harness or a truck reversing unsafely — and acts in real time.”

That ability to contextualize data is crucial in megaprojects, where risks multiply with size.

The firm’s technology has already been deployed across East Asia and parts of Europe. Now, the company is eyeing Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region, where giga-projects are transforming skylines at record speed.

Ng confirmed viAct is in active discussions to enter the Saudi market.

“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is deeply aligned with our mission,” he said. “There’s a growing demand for AI in infrastructure — not just for safety, but also for efficiency, environmental compliance, and transparency.

From NEOM and The Line to Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate, Saudi Arabia is leading one of the most ambitious construction booms in the world. These projects involve thousands of workers, advanced logistics and constant oversight.

However, traditional safety audits and manual inspections are no longer sufficient. “With projects of this scale, real-time monitoring is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” said Ng.

While viAct hasn’t yet launched in the Kingdom, its platform is fully prepared for Arabic localization and regional compliance standards, including Saudi labor laws and Gulf Cooperation Council safety codes.

What sets viAct apart is how seamlessly it integrates with existing infrastructure. Rather than requiring expensive proprietary equipment, the platform works with standard CCTV cameras and can be deployed in both urban and remote sites.

“Our system is plug-and-play,” said Ng. “You don’t need to overhaul your entire setup to use AI. That makes it ideal for companies in transition or for phased construction timelines.”

Its use of edge AI, meaning data is processed on site rather than in a distant cloud, allows viAct to deliver insights even in areas with weak internet connectivity. This feature is particularly useful in Saudi Arabia’s more isolated development zones or early-phase sites with minimal setup.

Its software is also highly customizable. For instance, a client building a hospital might prioritize fall detection and material delays, while a contractor working on an airport runway may need to monitor large machinery and perimeter access.

As automation reshapes industries, many worry that people are being replaced by machines. But Ng insists that viAct’s goal is not to eliminate workers — it is to protect them.

“We’re not building robots to take over,” he said. “We’re building tools that enhance human judgment and ensure safety. When a worker is alerted to a risk before an accident occurs, that’s AI doing its best job.”

In fact, many of viAct’s clients report that once site workers understand the system is not spying on them, but rather observing unsafe situations, adoption becomes smoother. Managers gain better oversight and laborers gain peace of mind.

“We see this as a collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence,” Ng said. “Each has strengths. Together, they’re far more effective.”

Deploying AI in construction also brings ethical questions to the forefront, particularly in projects run by government entities or involving public infrastructure. Ng is upfront about these concerns.

“All our solutions are GDPR-compliant and privacy-first,” he said, referring to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, a comprehensive set of rules designed to protect the personal data of individuals.

“We don’t use facial recognition and we don’t track individuals. The focus is purely on safety, compliance and productivity.”

Workers are anonymized in the system, with all data encrypted and stored securely. Dashboards used by contractors and project leads include logs, alerts and safety scores, allowing for clear documentation and accountability without compromising personal privacy.

This is especially important in the Gulf, where projects often involve multinational labor forces and cross-border stakeholders

Looking ahead, viAct plans to double down on its expansion in the Middle East, continue advancing its AI models and advocate for ethical AI deployment in high-risk sectors.

The company is also exploring ways to integrate predictive analytics, allowing clients to foresee and prevent incidents before they occur. This could eventually shift AI’s role from reactive to proactive, forecasting safety breaches, delivery delays or environmental compliance issues in advance.

Ng believes this kind of intelligent foresight will soon become standard across the construction industry.

“It’s not about replacing humans,” he said. “It’s about building a smarter site, one where decisions are faster, risks are fewer, and lives are safer.”

In the age of giga-projects, that is a future Saudi Arabia is already building.

 

At the AI Empowered (AIE) Summit this August at the CTICC in Cape Town, Ebrahim joins the speaker line-up to share her unique perspective.

(See how you can win tickets to attend at the end of this article.)

What inspired you to start Naz Consulting, and how has your vision for the company evolved over time?

I was a geeky 19 year old tomboy on campus sitting outside the library with my geek crowd. We talked about what we’d like to do when we finished university. Without skipping a beat, I said that I wanted to start a media and communications company. This was in the days before social media. I consulted, bootstrapped and worked with freelancers for a long time. Just before COVID-19 hit, I started to build a team. The dream is to build into Africa’s premier technology communications consultancy.

Why is it important for women to take part in this conversation around AI and marketing and why now?

Women have always contributed significantly in all sectors and industries from research and development to innovation, invention, design and progressive leadership. But the status quo has been to undermine a woman’s achievement as less significant. The need to amplify women’s voices in the age of AI is of paramount importance to further define the importance of this industrial age. The leadership skills and technical prowess presented by women in shaping this technology will anchor the necessity for the AI ethics and tech for good initiatives.

Nigerian executive joins ICC’s global marketing commission leadership

What do you think is getting lost in the way AI is currently being discussed in the marketing world?

The practicality of it. AI is thrown around loosely as an all-encompassing technology designed to be the aha moment of the world. It is in fact humans who direct this as we have done so in every other industrial age. Human beings need to ask the questions, train appropriately for the changes, be open and curious to learning and see AI for what it is:  to amplify and optimise our efforts but never to replace our values.

For marketing professionals attending the summit, what’s one mindset shift you hope they walk away with after your session?

With the confidence to ask the right questions and to be open to changing for relevance in this new and fast changing world. Creativity is found in every facet of life. Marketers have usually held the crown for creativity. Now is the time to embrace the fullness of this industrial age. We are no longer marketers. We are business optimisation technologists – BOTS.

What role do you believe African marketers can play in shaping how AI is developed and applied globally?

We can play the role of providing world class and leading research that presents as accurate a view of our continent, cultures and peoples. We don’t need the West to tell us who we are. AI is a lifecycle comprising multiple components. Models, Data and Training and Resources. Are we allowing ourselves to continue to be led by the West and the oriental East or being owners and builders of the technologies that guide and shape humanity?

Want to be part of the conversation? As a special offer to our readers, you could stand a chance to attend the AI Empowered Summit, inspired by EO Cape Town, taking place on 7–8 August 2025 at the CTICC. We’re giving away two double tickets to this thought-provoking event where innovators like Nazareen Ebrahim will share their insights on the future of AI, ethics, marketing, and beyond. Contact info@aiempowered.co.za to enter.

When we think about AI, our first thought is often of a killer robot, rogue computer system, or humanoid child on its quest to become a real boy. Depictions of AI in film are a reflection of how people have viewed AI and similar technologies over the past century. However, the reality of what AI is differs from what we see in science fiction. AI can take many forms but it is almost never humanoid and it most certainly isn’t always bad. Our ideas of what AI is and what it can become originate from very compelling science fiction stories dating as far back as the 19th century and as technology has evolved over the years, people’s ideas, hopes, and fears of AI have grown and evolved with it.

As the field of AI begins to blend the realm of reality and science fiction, let’s look at some films that offer a lens into intelligent machines, what it means to be human, and humanity’s quest to create an intelligence that may someday rival our own. Here are 15 must watch films about AI to add to your summer movie watchlist: