This year's event underscored how the industry is utilizing digital technology to address workforce shortages and improve job site safety.

LAS VEGAS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Global construction equipment manufacturers are gathering in Las Vegas from Tuesday to Saturday for the 2026 CONEXPO-CON/AGG, showcasing a broad shift toward artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous operations.

The largest construction trade show in North America, held every three years, represents asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining, utilities and more. This year's event underscored how the industry is utilizing digital technology to address workforce shortages and improve job site safety.

Jahmy Hindman, CTO at John Deere, said at a seminar during the show that some projections anticipate the global construction market could reach approximately 16 trillion U.S. dollars within five years.

He noted that the industry would need to grow roughly 70 percent by 2040 to meet demand.

Hindman said that more than 95 percent of job site data currently remains underutilized and is rarely used to reduce operational costs. The company's new digital platforms allow managers to see whether a project is profitable compared with the original bid when there is still time to adjust.

U.S.-based Caterpillar and Japan's Komatsu, both leading companies in the construction industry, showcased intelligent machine systems that automate repetitive movements, such as grading and soil compaction, allowing new operators to perform high-precision tasks with less training.

Chinese manufacturers at the event promoted what they call the "Five Modernizations," focusing on high-end, green and intelligent equipment.

Sany Group demonstrated a driverless heavy truck system developed with Pony.ai. Company figures suggest that using one human-driven lead truck to guide four driverless units could reduce freight costs by up to 29 percent in specific trials.

Other Chinese firms, including Zoomline, XCMG, and LiuGong, displayed autonomous electric fleets. They noted that linking electrification with AI helps reach both financial and environmental goals.

European equipment maker Epiroc showed how autonomous drill rigs can keep operators away from the most hazardous zones. The shift toward remote operation is also gaining momentum.

At the Epiroc booth, a Luck Stone operator in Las Vegas remotely monitored and controlled an autonomous drill working at a quarry in Virginia, several thousand kilometers away, in real time.

Despite the push for autonomy, executives maintained that human oversight remains essential for accountability.

Martin Willoughby, CEO of Command Alkon, argued that moral judgment must lie with human leaders. "The technology itself does not determine our future; the leadership does," Willoughby told a keynote session on Tuesday.