AI Safety Signals for Contractors to Prevent $4M Claims and Impress Owners with Josh Kanner

In this episode, the ConTech Crew Host Jeff Sample Alongside Co-Host Rob McKinney gets into the evolving world of construction technology with returning guest Josh Kanner, Sr. Director, Product & Strategy, Construction & Engineering Intelligence at Oracle. Together with the crew, they discuss how innovation, AI, and real-time data are transforming the industry from top to bottom. The conversation explores lessons learned from years in the field, how startups scale in construction, and the tech adoption hurdles that continue to challenge the sector.

From predictions on AI’s impact to the critical importance of understanding what happens on the jobsite, this episode is packed with insightful, future-facing perspectives. Whether you’re a contractor, a tech provider, or somewhere in between, the episode offers value on navigating construction’s digital transformation while staying grounded in real-world execution.

Key Takeaways

• AI adds value through visibility, not replacement.
• Jobsite photos and payroll data offer predictive safety signals.
• Vinny, the AI assistant, helps reduce incident rates and costs.
• Owners are demanding better data for long-term asset use
• Startups must focus on solving real problems, not chasing hype.
• Operationalizing data is where transformation really happens.

Timestamps

[00:00] - Intro and guest introductions

[03:30] - Background of Josh. 

[08:40] - Vinny the AI and early wins in safety data

[12:16] - Scaling a construction tech startup the hard way

[22:06] - How AI is integrated across project scheduling and safety

[23:25] - Real-world ROI: Bolt, Suffolk, and Severn Trent case studies

[32:54] - Getting actionable data from photos, payroll & more

[37:20] - Challenges through which contractors can learn. 

[44:33] - Final thoughts on collaboration and the future of construction data

Follow the Guest:

• Guest (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkanner/ 
• Website: https://www.oracle.com/ 
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/oracle/ 
• Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/Oracle/ 
• Youtube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/oracle/ 
• Twitter (Company): https://x.com/oracle 

Follow the Co-Host:

• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/conappguru/ 

Follow The ConTech Crew:

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew