In this episode of Construction Tech News, host Jeff Sample teams up with two industry leaders to discuss how automation and artificial intelligence are influencing construction workflows.Travis Voss, Director of Innovative Technology and Fabrication at SMACNA and Trent Leinenbach, Vice President of Customer Experience at Stratus joined the conversation to explore topics ranging from autonomous forklifts to AI-driven news sourcing.
The discussion also covers the introduction of CLARK, a large language model designed to assist engineers with codes and standards and analyzes the industry’s take on U.S. steel tariffs and their long-term implications for construction materials.
Key Learnings:
- Autonomous forklifts are now a reality thanks to university-led research.
- AI tools like ChatGPT can support construction pros with smarter news sourcing.
- CLARK, a new large language model, aims to assist structural engineers.
- Engineering decisions still require human oversight, even with AI input.
- Steel tariffs may stabilize local manufacturing but introduce uncertainty.
- Industry leaders support tariffs for long-term competitive advantage.
- The future of sourcing materials hinges on balancing innovation and policy.
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Show intro and episode format
[01:41] - Autonomous forklifts and robotics in construction
[08:39] - CLARK: AI for engineering and code support
[10:53] - The role of LLMs and AI responsibility in engineering
[17:25] - U.S. steel tariffs and the global materials supply chain
NCCER: https://ambitiontheory.com/building-better-report/
Follow The Guest (Travis Voss)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-voss/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travis.voss.336
- Website: https://www.constructiondorks.com/
Follow The Guest (Trent Leinenbach)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-leinenbach-plmb-466018177/
- Twitter: https://x.com/BimminAintEasy
Reference Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bim-dead-long-live-briefish-commentary-past-present-future-olcott-jbxmf/?trackingId=XSkRE3UsQiagIlk1W4wvtw%3D%3D
- https://www.enr.com/articles/60595-steel-construction-institute-announces-ai-clark-and-supports-tariff-policies
- https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.14331
- https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-for-worker-site-safety-in-construction-2025-4
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com