萝莉视频

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.

鈥淒espite being one of the most labor-intensive and hazardous industries, construction remains vastly under-digitized,鈥� Ng told Arab News. 鈥淲e saw this as an opportunity to bring AI-driven automation and insights to frontline operations.

Unlike conventional surveillance tools that simply record footage, viAct鈥檚 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.

鈥淭his is not just about object detection,鈥� said Ng. 鈥淥ur AI understands context. It recognizes behaviors 鈥� like a worker being too close to the edge without a harness or a truck reversing unsafely 鈥� and acts in real time.鈥�

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

The firm鈥檚 technology has already been deployed across East Asia and parts of Europe. Now, the company is eyeing 萝莉视频 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.

鈥溌芾蚴悠碘�檚 Vision 2030 is deeply aligned with our mission,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a growing demand for AI in infrastructure 鈥� not just for safety, but also for efficiency, environmental compliance, and transparency.

From NEOM and The Line to Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate, 萝莉视频 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. 鈥淲ith projects of this scale, real-time monitoring is not a luxury 鈥� it鈥檚 a necessity,鈥� said Ng.

While viAct hasn鈥檛 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.

鈥淥ur system is plug-and-play,鈥� said Ng. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to overhaul your entire setup to use AI. That makes it ideal for companies in transition or for phased construction timelines.鈥�

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 萝莉视频鈥檚 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鈥檚 goal is not to eliminate workers 鈥� it is to protect them.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not building robots to take over,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e building tools that enhance human judgment and ensure safety. When a worker is alerted to a risk before an accident occurs, that鈥檚 AI doing its best job.鈥�

In fact, many of viAct鈥檚 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.

鈥淲e see this as a collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence,鈥� Ng said. 鈥淓ach has strengths. Together, they鈥檙e far more effective.鈥�

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.

鈥淎ll our solutions are GDPR-compliant and privacy-first,鈥� he said, referring to the EU鈥檚 General Data Protection Regulation, a comprehensive set of rules designed to protect the personal data of individuals.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 use facial recognition and we don鈥檛 track individuals. The focus is purely on safety, compliance and productivity.鈥�

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鈥檚 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about replacing humans,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about building a smarter site, one where decisions are faster, risks are fewer, and lives are safer.鈥�

In the age of giga-projects, that is a future 萝莉视频 is already building.