This presentation takes a contrarian, reality-check approach to the current hype around artificial intelligence in facilities management. Rather than focusing on tools or vendors, Josh Lowe explains why most AI deployments — estimated at roughly 85 percent — fail to meet expectations. The root cause, he argues, isn’t the technology itself but the poor quality, inconsistency and fragmentation of the data organizations feed into it. Through relatable examples, like incomplete asset inventories, inconsistent naming conventions and siloed systems, he illustrates how AI systems struggle when the underlying data lacks structure and reliability. 

The session digs into the operational realities of facilities teams, highlighting how disconnected systems, manual processes and inconsistent data collection practices create compounding problems. The speaker emphasizes that AI cannot “figure out” missing or messy information the way humans can. Instead, it amplifies those issues, leading to inaccurate insights, wasted time and failed ROI. He also connects these data challenges to broader industry habits, such as reactive “firefighting” maintenance and lack of standardized processes, arguing that these cultural and operational issues must be addressed before AI can deliver value.