Just a few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) seemed reserved for research labs and big tech companies. Today, it is finding its way into health, finance, education… and even construction.
In just 2, 3, or 4 years, it will become unavoidable in the daily lives of building trades. And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the needs for infrastructure and housing are immense, AI can become an accelerator of rapid growth.
Rather than seeing AI as a threat that eliminates jobs, it should be understood as a tool for precision, productivity, and modernization, reducing human error while creating new skills.
Masons, plumbers, electricians, tilers, and painters: first in line
On a construction site, they are the ones driving transformation.
The mason will be able, thanks to a simple video of the site, to automatically calculate the volume of concrete, the number of bricks required, and a visual check of wall alignment.
The plumber will no longer need to break walls searching for leaks: a camera and AI application will detect obstructions, locate cracks, and suggest the right solution.
The electrician will use a thermal camera to detect overheating invisible to the naked eye and automatically generate compliant wiring diagrams.
The tiler will simulate tile layouts in augmented reality to avoid bad surprises and optimize cuts.
The painter will quickly calculate the surfaces to cover, choose the paint best suited to local humidity, and show the client a realistic color rendering even before opening a paint can.
In each of these cases, AI reduces waste, minimizes errors, and improves final quality.
An African context that requires adaptation
Of course, AI in the DRC will not be used the same way as in Paris, Dubai, or Beijing. Local realities are different:
Access to tools: most artisans work with a basic smartphone. Applications must therefore be light, usable offline, and multilingual (French, Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo).
Cost of equipment: drones, thermal cameras, or 3D scanners remain expensive. The solution? Shared AI kits, managed by the CMA, which artisans can rent or share.
Electricity and connectivity: with frequent outages, tools must work offline, with long-lasting batteries.
Non-standardized materials: from river sand to local cement to imported tiles, recipes vary. AI must be fed with local data to stay relevant.
The key role of the CMA
The Chamber of Trades and Artisans (CMA) becomes a central player in this transition.
It can train artisans in the practical uses of AI: no complicated theory, but concrete actions (scanning a wall, calibrating a quote, reading an inspection report).
It can certify: an artisan who uses AI correctly, produces reliable estimates, and delivers without defects should be recognized and valued.
It can mutualize equipment: creating a network of “Digital Artisan Houses” where workers borrow tools and software.
It can popularize: explaining that AI is not a machine that replaces humans, but an assistant that makes them more precise and competitive.
Why act now
The transformation is already underway. In 2 to 4 years, AI will be everywhere: in quotes, diagnostics, and site management. If the DRC does not prepare today, it will end up importing ready-made solutions tomorrow, often poorly adapted.
But if the country takes the lead, it can:
Create its own local databases to train AI systems.
Train a new generation of artisans “augmented” by digital tools.
Drastically reduce construction delays, waste, and defects that are costly for both developers and individuals.
A future to build together
AI is not a gadget. It is a new way of working, learning, and building. It does not eliminate the artisan’s skill; it sharpens it. It does not replace the engineer; it makes them faster and more reliable.
For a country like the DRC, where thousands of young people enter the labor market each year, AI can be a powerful lever: transforming construction trades, valuing artisans’ expertise, and giving new dignity to manual work.
The construction site of tomorrow will not only be made of bricks, concrete, and paint. It will also be made of data, sensors, and artificial intelligence. And it is today that the DRC must lay the first stones of this silent revolution.
