AI in Construction: How to Apply AI to Real Projects with Tom Feliz
Sat Jan 24 2026
Whether you’re a construction professional, tech enthusiast, or just curious about the future of work, this episode is packed with insights, philosophy, and practical advice. This show was filmed live from LCI Congress 2025. Tom Feliz, DataGrid’s Head of Growth, breaks down how construction professionals can practically apply AI to eliminate waste, improve productivity, and get home by 5 PM. Discover why AI won't take your job—but someone using AI might—and learn actionable first steps to leverage AI agents, visual language models, and automation in your daily construction workflows.
🎯 Key Topics & Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction at LCI Congress 2025
0:54 - What people misunderstand about AI in construction
3:17 - Why AI is the biggest invention of our lifetime
6:00 - How AI eliminates energy-draining tasks
9:48 - Favorite AI tools and large language models (LLMs)
10:47 - Creating your own AI board of directors
12:47 - Visual Language Models (VLMs) vs. LLMs for construction
13:48 - Solving the lessons learned problem with AI agents
22:35 - Why Tom chose construction over Silicon Valley
24:44 - Respect for people and clearing the path for field workers
28:34 - How to get started with DataGrid
30:26 - The 30-year welder who became an AI power user
🔑 Topics Covered:
Construction technology, lean construction, Last Planner System, AI agents, retrieval augmented generation (RAG), scheduling automation, target value design, construction productivity, field operations, construction innovation, digital transformation, construction AI tools, project management automation
📚 Resources Mentioned:
DataGrid: https://datagrid.com
Contact Tom: tom@datagrid.com
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement 2005: https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc?si=4_spRDgZHgPdcnkv
💡 Key Takeaways:
✅ AI eliminates menial tasks so you can focus on creative problem-solving
✅ Start with simple automation for high-frequency, high-impact problems
✅ Visual Language Models handle construction documents better than standard LLMs
✅ You don't need coding skills—if you can manage people, you can build AI agents
✅ Lessons learned agents prevent repeating mistakes across projects
👉 Take Action:
Subscribe for more construction technology insights
Drop a comment: What's ONE task you'd automate with AI today?
Share this with someone in construction who needs to hear this
ConstructionAI #LeanConstruction #ConstructionTechnology #AIinConstruction #DataGrid
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Connect with Tom via
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpfeliz/
Datagrid at https://www.datagrid.com/
Connect with Felipe via
Social media and Free Lean and Scrum Training Resources at https://thefelipe.bio.link
RSM Podia Course Link: https://store.theebfcshow.com/rsm
Subscribe to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube
Watch The EBFC Show Podcast https://click.theebfcshow.com/YouTube-Podcast
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Today's episode is sponsored by Field Verified. Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.
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Whether you’re a construction professional, tech enthusiast, or just curious about the future of work, this episode is packed with insights, philosophy, and practical advice. This show was filmed live from LCI Congress 2025. Tom Feliz, DataGrid’s Head of Growth, breaks down how construction professionals can practically apply AI to eliminate waste, improve productivity, and get home by 5 PM. Discover why AI won't take your job—but someone using AI might—and learn actionable first steps to leverage AI agents, visual language models, and automation in your daily construction workflows. 🎯 Key Topics & Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction at LCI Congress 2025 0:54 - What people misunderstand about AI in construction 3:17 - Why AI is the biggest invention of our lifetime 6:00 - How AI eliminates energy-draining tasks 9:48 - Favorite AI tools and large language models (LLMs) 10:47 - Creating your own AI board of directors 12:47 - Visual Language Models (VLMs) vs. LLMs for construction 13:48 - Solving the lessons learned problem with AI agents 22:35 - Why Tom chose construction over Silicon Valley 24:44 - Respect for people and clearing the path for field workers 28:34 - How to get started with DataGrid 30:26 - The 30-year welder who became an AI power user 🔑 Topics Covered: Construction technology, lean construction, Last Planner System, AI agents, retrieval augmented generation (RAG), scheduling automation, target value design, construction productivity, field operations, construction innovation, digital transformation, construction AI tools, project management automation 📚 Resources Mentioned: DataGrid: https://datagrid.com Contact Tom: tom@datagrid.com Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement 2005: https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc?si=4_spRDgZHgPdcnkv 💡 Key Takeaways: ✅ AI eliminates menial tasks so you can focus on creative problem-solving ✅ Start with simple automation for high-frequency, high-impact problems ✅ Visual Language Models handle construction documents better than standard LLMs ✅ You don't need coding skills—if you can manage people, you can build AI agents ✅ Lessons learned agents prevent repeating mistakes across projects 👉 Take Action: Subscribe for more construction technology insights Drop a comment: What's ONE task you'd automate with AI today? Share this with someone in construction who needs to hear this ConstructionAI #LeanConstruction #ConstructionTechnology #AIinConstruction #DataGrid --- Connect with Tom via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpfeliz/ Datagrid at https://www.datagrid.com/ Connect with Felipe via Social media and Free Lean and Scrum Training Resources at https://thefelipe.bio.link RSM Podia Course Link: https://store.theebfcshow.com/rsm Subscribe to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube Watch The EBFC Show Podcast https://click.theebfcshow.com/YouTube-Podcast --- Today's episode is sponsored by Field Verified. Elevate your construction career and enhance your company's performance by mastering the crucial aspect of building enclosure management with Field Verified's specialized training. Address the major challenge of managing building enclosures, a common source of construction failures. Get hands-on learning experience with real-world construction scenarios and mock-up installations for skill-building with leadership and team-focused strategies. By joining our course, you gain access to a proven program that not only covers technical aspects but also better practices for effective construction management. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach. Visit https://fieldverified.com for more insights, or contact us at 480-719-5090.