This episode is part of a special series exploring AI in the construction industry.
David Porter is the CEO and co-founder of Octant AI, a company applying predictive AI to improve decision-making and financial certainty in project-based organisations. A civil engineer by background, David has spent more than three decades leading major infrastructure and capital programmes, founding and scaling consulting businesses, and advising government and private-sector organisations on complex project delivery. His work sits at the intersection of project management, probability and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on helping organisations better understand and manage uncertainty.
In this episode, David shares his journey from project management and infrastructure into AI and explores why the construction and project industries have been slow to adopt a technology that could fundamentally change how decisions are made. He explains the difference between predictive, generative and agentic AI, why organisations should think about relying on AI rather than trusting it, and how probability-based models can provide a more dynamic view of cost and time outcomes. David also explores systems thinking, paradigm shifts and the potential for AI to act like a "Google Maps" for projects—continuously analysing data, identifying early warning signs and helping teams take action before problems become costly.
Resources and links:
David Porter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-porter-27a64613/
Octant AI: https://octantai.com/
Connect:
The Society of Construction Law Australia website: https://www.scl.org.au/
The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-construction-law-australia/
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast.
This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.