Your plumber has a new favorite tool: ChatGPT

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Blue-collar industries — from plumbing to HVAC — are rapidly adopting AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and trade-specific platforms such as ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro
• Workers now use AI to generate invoices, diagnose technical issues, and craft customer proposals, transforming both on-site and back-office operations
• At Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling in Wisconsin, plumbers use ChatGPT to troubleshoot and optimise workflows, while Florida’s Gulfshore Air Conditioning & Heating has automated everything from service requests to diagnostics

🔭 The context: A 2024 survey by Housecall Pro found that over 70% of North American tradespeople have tried AI tools, and 40% use them actively
• Plumbers reported the highest business growth linked to AI use, cleaners were the biggest adopters, and electricians the most satisfied users
• Vocational schools across the US are now weaving AI literacy into their curricula to prepare graduates for a digital, data-driven labour market

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: By automating diagnostics, scheduling, and resource management, tools like ChatGPT could indirectly reduce waste and improve operational efficiency in sectors such as plumbing and HVAC — areas closely tied to water and energy use
• Though not yet measured, these gains could eventually support more resource-conscious practices in everyday infrastructure maintenance

⏭️ What’s next: Adoption remains uneven. Many older tradespeople remain cautious, though the “tide is coming in,” says the Air Conditioning Contractors of America 
• The next phase will likely see hybrid human–AI workflows, where technicians focus on hands-on tasks while AI handles logistics and analysis

💬 One quote: “Some of our older guys have learned to ask ChatGPT the right questions, and they’re kind of amazed by the answers.” — Dan Callies, President, Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling

📈 One stat: Businesses using AI in trades reported an average $150 increase per service ticket, illustrating the direct economic impact of AI-augmented labour

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