Turner Construction has rolled out ChatGPT Enterprise to all employees and developed hundreds of custom AI agents, revolutionising project management, safety, and supply chain operations across the industry.
Turner Construction Co. has taken a major step toward integrating artificial intelligence across its vast operations by providing every employee with access to ChatGPT Enterprise and Microsoft Copilot, ushering in a new era of AI-driven construction management. Announced on November 4, this initiative is part of a broader strategy that has already seen Turner develop hundreds of custom AI tools, created by its own workforce through internal hackathons and AI-assisted “vibe-coding,” including during its recent Innovation Summit in Nashville.
James Barrett, Turner’s vice president and chief innovation officer, emphasises the company’s commitment to “democratizing innovation and AI” by equipping those closest to the work with AI tools tailored to solve real-world construction challenges. Barrett explains that Turner’s approach has been to not only introduce AI tools but also to train employees on how to develop their own AI agents tailored to various aspects of construction, ranging from field operations and project management to procurement, estimating, finance, legal affairs, and safety. As a result, Turner boasts a library of around 400 active AI agents in use across its projects.
Among these AI agents are Safety Scout, which analyses jobsite photos to identify hazards and bolster safety protocols, and the Schedule Insight Agent, which automates critical-path scheduling analysis, saving hours of manual work. Other innovations include the Curtain-Wall Evaluation Suite that helps assess façade options early for constructability and the Building Decarbonization Policy Explorer, a tool that maps regional sustainability requirements, aiding in compliance during early planning stages. Barrett notes that ChatGPT is only one of the AI technologies in use, with Claude and Google Gemini also being integrated into employee workflows.
The impact of these AI tools is tangible, with Turner users logging more than 70,000 hours of annual capacity gains and averaging 9,000 daily AI interactions, translating into significant time savings, four to five hours weekly per user, plus improved quality, creativity, and confidence in project delivery. Barrett predicts that the advent of accessible AI will disrupt traditional processes such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), fundamentally altering construction workflows within the coming decade.
Turner’s AI ambitions are further supported by strategic partnerships. The company has entered a two-year collaboration with OpenAI, enhancing its AI integration and innovation capacity. At its Innovation Summit, teams created over 100 custom AI agents specifically designed to address project needs. Additionally, Turner is expanding its use of Versatile’s CraneView, an AI-powered solution that collects and analyses crane operation data via hook-mounted sensors, offering actionable insights through dashboards. This technology is improving construction planning and sequencing, contributing to enhanced scheduling and jobsite safety.
Beyond operations, Turner employs AI to optimise its supply chain, achieving an 18% reduction in material waste and boosting delivery reliability with predictive analytics. This AI also identifies alternative suppliers during disruptions, ensuring that project timelines and budgets stay on track. The use of CraneView has helped Turner slash critical path installation times by 30%, a testament to the tangible benefits of real-time AI data analysis in equipment management.
Turner’s Innovation Summits, annual gatherings focused on future-facing technology and workforce transformation, serve as key platforms for showcasing and accelerating AI adoption. For example, the company demonstrated AI tools that automate the drafting of approximately 30,000 trade contracts annually and explored generative design to refine engineering processes. These initiatives underscore Turner’s leadership in positioning AI not just as a tool but as an integral component of construction intelligence augmentation.
Looking ahead, Barrett envisions generative AI as a transformational force in construction over the next decade, potentially surpassing the impact of any technology introduced in the past century. Turner’s comprehensive AI strategy, combining broad employee access to advanced tools, extensive custom development, strategic partnerships, and practical applications, positions it at the forefront of an industry-wide shift toward more efficient, creative, and data-driven construction management.
Meanwhile, related to AI-driven innovations in the construction sector, startups like Spacial and Maket are attracting investment to scale their AI-powered platforms. Spacial, which automates residential engineering and permitting, recently secured $10 million in seed funding to enhance its AI capabilities and grow its market presence among architects and builders. Maket, an architectural layout design platform based in Montreal, raised $2.4 million to further develop its AI-enhanced design tools, aiming to accelerate early-stage planning and client approvals. These funding rounds highlight a growing ecosystem of AI tools supporting various facets of construction and design, complementing the advances made by established firms like Turner.
This convergence of enterprise-level AI adoption, innovative startups, and strategic partnerships signals a pivotal moment for the construction industry as it embraces digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] Engineering News-Record – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9
- [2] Construction Dive – Paragraph 2
- [3] Construction Owners Association of America – Paragraph 3
- [4] On-Site Magazine – Paragraph 6
- [5] Building Design + Construction Network – Paragraph 7
- [6] Chief AI Officer – Paragraph 6
- [7] Electrical Construction & Maintenance – Paragraph 8
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was published on November 4, 2023, and has not appeared elsewhere in the past seven days. The content is original and not recycled from other sources. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
All direct quotes from James Barrett, Turner’s vice president and chief innovation officer, are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Engineering News-Record (ENR), a reputable organisation known for its coverage of construction industry news. This enhances the credibility of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Turner Construction’s AI integration are plausible and align with industry trends. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original, with no evidence of recycled content or disinformation. The quotes are unique, and the source is reputable. The claims are plausible and consistent with industry trends, with minor concerns about the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets.
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