contractor AI adoption Archives

The Weekend Read (5/31/26): Being Good at the Trade Isn’t the Edge Anymore

June 30, 2026May 31, 2026 by Michael

A trade contractor sitting on his truck tailgate at golden hour, reflecting on his business, illustrating a 2026 weekend read on AI findability and operational efficiency in the trades

Two reports landed this spring that, read together, say something uncomfortable: being excellent at the actual trade is now the price of entry, not the advantage. Most contractors can’t be found by the AI tools homeowners are starting to ask — and most aren’t yet using AI to run faster. A weekend read on the gap that’s quietly separating shops in 2026.

74% of Contractors Say AI Is Key to Efficiency — But Only 1 in 4 Actually Use It

June 30, 2026May 31, 2026 by Michael

An HVAC contractor considering AI software on a tablet, illustrating the 2026 gap between contractors who believe in AI and the 1 in 4 who actually use it

ServiceTitan’s 2026 report found that 74% of residential contractors see AI as key to efficiency — but only about 1 in 4 actually use it. Belief is nearly universal; adoption is still the exception. Here’s what that gap means for your shop, and why the contractors closing it first this year will be hard to catch next year.