No Job Is Safe As First “AI Robot Tradie” Learns How To Under Quote To Win Business And Phoenix Their Company Shortly After Completing A Big Job To A Poor Standard

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

The popular mantra that trade services will never be replaced by AI is under threat this week after an "AI Robot Tradie" has taught itself how to underquote clients to get their business before hammering them with additions and revisions once work is underway, as well as phoenixing their trading entity once they've completed a large job to a poor standard in order to protect themselves and their assets.

Australia's first "AI Robot Tradie" was rolled out in the Diamantina Shire midway through last year to mild national fanfare and warnings from unions and trade services groups that this could be "playing with fire" in terms of protecting the jobs of hardworking and decent tradespeople.

It seems their concerns were founded after "Builder Bohden", a licensed builder and humanoid drone, was asked to quote for a small extension to a heritage Queenslander in the French Quarter last month.

Daphne Taylor, a 65-year-old disability pensioner who is legally blind and uses a wheelchair, was quoted $52 000 for a ramp between the curb and her front verandah and a new room off the back of the rear verandah. She accepted the quote and work began. However, when construction was half completed, Bohden said he needed a further $125 000 to complete the job as he had "run into unexpected costs with the heritage order".

The job is now subject to a civil dispute and Bohden has taken to social media in the interim to discredit Ms Taylor and suggest she has dementia.

It comes as Bohden's previous construction entity, Ligma Sockets Pty Ltd, was "phoenixed" shortly after completing the construction of a Betoota Heights aged care facility.

Building inspectors have found hundreds of defects in the build and the owners launched civil action against Ligma Sockets Pty Ltd, only to find it'd be wound up and the original directors were now in Egypt and Lebanon. Bohden was listed as a minority shareholder of that business and denied the accusation he was effectively acting as a director.

Bohden did not answer questions to it it by The Advocate.

The federal department of workplace and industrial relations has said they're investigating the burgeoning industry that is AI trade services, as no Labor Government would let their tradies, a protected species in the country, suffer in anyway shape or form.

Their response to issues raised in this story is pending.

More to come.