If you’ve felt the rising tension around AI — excitement, uncertainty, maybe even a little fear — you’re not alone. In this week’s Contractor Evolution episode, Danny sits down with entrepreneur and AI strategist Kasim Aslam for one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve had on what the coming decade means for trades businesses.

Kasim has built and exited multimillion-dollar companies. He spends his time helping leaders understand AI before it steamrolls their industry. His core message for contractors? AI doesn’t eliminate the need for people. It increases the premium on humanity.

This episode isn’t about hype. It’s a practical look at what’s already happening in plumbing, HVAC, and service industries, how private equity is deploying AI today, and where small-to-mid-sized contractors can win while the landscape shifts.

‍

Why Contractors Should Pay Attention To The Rise of AI

According to Kasim, trades will be one of the last industries fully disrupted by AI, but disruption is coming. From remote-diagnostic plumbing models to rapid knowledge-capture systems that train AI on veteran expertise, the next 5-10 years will change how field work gets done.

But Kasim’s message is clear:

Contractors who double down on real human connection and adopt AI bottom-up — not top-down — will own the next decade.

Key Takeaways You Can Use Right Now

1. Stop chasing what scales. Focus on what can’t be automated.

AI will commoditize anything repeatable. The differentiators that survive?

• A real human answering the phone
  
  
• Remembering customer details
  
  
• Handwritten follow-ups
  
  
• Local presence, relationships, community involvement
  
  

These “non-scalable” actions will buy you time as AI continues to take over other industries that are less reliant on people.

2. AI is already transforming field work

Forward-thinking trades companies (ahem, private equity backed) are giving new technicians camera-equipped workflows while senior experts diagnose remotely.

This boosts productivity today and builds a knowledge library that becomes a competitive advantage tomorrow. While your business may not be ready for this change, you should start thinking about how this new way of doing things will impact you in 5-10 years.

3. Don’t implement AI from the top down. Let your people lead it.

Instead of declaring, “We’re automating this department,” invite your team to identify where AI genuinely helps them.

Give them incentives based on output, not hours, and let them surface the high-leverage use cases.

4. Excellence beats scale. Be the company everyone refuses to leave.

Private equity can outspend you, but they can’t out-care you.

Contractors who build a reputation for service, trust, and real human warmth will own the “upward trending leg of the K-shape economy.”

5. Free yourself for the work that matters — invest your five hours.

Kasim’s challenge is simple: Spend at least five hours a week working ON your business, not just IN it.

Those small, consistent improvements will transform your systems, culture, and valuation long before AI becomes your biggest threat.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Business?

If you want help building systems, empowering your team, and making smart decisions about AI, automation and human resources, book an implementation call with Breakthrough Academy. We’ll show you how these insights apply directly to your business and what to do next.