  Construction technology researchers and forward-thinking companies are
experimenting with collaborative robots (aka cobots), powered by artificial
intelligence (AI), to explore various automation scenarios as part of the
digital transformation of the industry. Intelligent cobots are expected to be
the dominant type of robots in the future of work in construction. However, the
black-box nature of AI-powered cobots and unknown technical and psychological
aspects of introducing them to job sites are precursors to trust challenges. By
analyzing the results of semi-structured interviews with construction
practitioners using grounded theory, this paper investigates the
characteristics of trustworthy AI-powered cobots in construction. The study
found that while the key trust factors identified in a systematic literature
review -- conducted previously by the authors -- resonated with the field
experts and end users, other factors such as financial considerations and the
uncertainty associated with change were also significant barriers against
trusting AI-powered cobots in construction.
