The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has introduced a major regulatory shift, publishing its first-ever global professional standard for the responsible use of AI in surveying. This new standard becomes mandatory on 9 March 2026, marking a turning point for professionals across valuation, construction, land, and infrastructure.
RICS has taken this step because AI is now deeply embedded in day‑to‑day surveying work — from automated data analysis to design insights — and with it comes real risk. Issues like bias, erroneous outputs, data misuse, and over‑reliance on algorithms could seriously undermine professional judgement and client trust if left unmanaged.
Under the new rules, every surveyor will need a baseline understanding of how AI works, its limitations, and its risks. Firms are expected to strengthen their governance by maintaining AI risk registers, assessing systems before use, and carrying out proper due diligence on tools and vendors. And even as AI becomes more capable, human oversight remains non‑negotiable: a named surveyor will still be fully accountable for all AI-assisted outputs.
Transparency is also becoming a formal requirement. Surveyors must inform clients in writing whenever AI is used, explaining how it will influence the service, what options clients have, and what safeguards are in place. Alongside this, RICS is tightening expectations around data governance, requiring firms to secure confidential information and seek explicit consent before uploading private data into any AI system.
This new standard applies to all RICS members and regulated firms worldwide wherever AI has a material impact on service delivery. It’s a clear signal that while RICS supports innovation, it places equal value on ethics, transparency, and the trusted judgement that defines the profession.
