As the Director of Ops IS at Moss Construction, Austin Garcia isn’t afraid to get his boots dirty. A self-proclaimed field guy, Garcia is just as comfortable talking about OSHA compliance and project management data as he is about training AI models to cite safety code on the fly. A family-owned powerhouse known for its bold approach to tech, Moss Construction has quietly been building an in-house AI platform that could transform how the industry works, from jobsite to boardroom.
We sat down with Garcia to discuss AI, partnerships, and what it takes to get construction pros to adopt new tech. Spoiler: it’s not about the tools—it’s about the people.
Under the Hard Hat: Let’s start at the top. What’s Moss’s overall strategy for adopting new tech, especially AI? Are you trying to disrupt the industry, or just make life easier?
Austin Garcia: We’re not trying to be a Google or a tech startup—we’re a construction company first. But we’re always asking, how can we make things better for our people? Our approach is people-first. That means honoring relationships, listening to what folks in the field actually need, and meeting them where they are. We’re interested if a tool helps them get off the laptop and back onto the job site faster.
UTHH: What sparked Moss’s investment in AI?
AG: Actually, ChatGPT was out of the bottle. So we thought—okay, if folks will use this stuff anyway, let’s make sure they’re doing it securely and effectively. Moss has invested in an internal AI system for years, since at least late 2019. We have had an enterprise ChatGPT since 2022, and started rolling out the broader enterprise in early 2024, where we built out domain-specific assistants for legal, safety, and QA/QC. The safety assistant gets used the most.
UTHH: What does a “domain-specific assistant” do in practice?
AG: Let’s say a young project engineer sees something on-site that looks unsafe but isn’t sure why. They can snap a picture, ask the AI assistant, and get a response that says, “Yes, this requires fall protection under OSHA section XYZ”—and links the exact code. That’s a game changer. It gives people confidence and raises the floor of knowledge without anyone feeling embarrassed to ask.
AN: That’s a big shift from the usual analog processes in construction.
AG: Exactly. AI helps us democratize data. Traditionally, C-suite folks are the only ones who get beautifully curated dashboards. Now we can build real-time, custom insights for anyone, even a project engineer who just wants to know which RFIs are open or where they should be walking today.
UTHH: Let’s talk about Moss’s custom AI platform. What makes it different?
AG: Our new platform lets us plug into all of our internal systems—HR, finance, safety, project management—and pull real insights. Not just analysis of what has happened, but predictive and even prescriptive insights. Like, “This team member is probably the best fit for this project based on X, Y, and Z.” We’re not building AI to replace people. We’re building it to extend them. One project manager could handle two projects instead of one.
UTHH: You mentioned partnerships. What’s going on with Procore?
AG: We’ve partnered with Procore on our solar and construction sides. They recently released their AI Copilot. Right now, it’s more search-based, but they’re moving toward an “agentic” model, where AI can act on a user’s behalf. We’re working with them on integrations between our platform and theirs. The biggest challenge with AI right now is siloing; every vendor wants their own AI, but we need systems that talk to each other.
UTHH: Technology can cause skepticism and even dread in the industry. What kind of resistance have you faced bringing AI to the forefront?
AG: Honestly? The biggest challenges are human. Some people are skeptical. Others are worried AI will replace them, or that junior employees will rely on it too much. We don’t ignore that. We show them: this is just another tool, like moving from a hammer to a power drill. The good employees use tools to get better. The bad ones? They’ll find ways not to do the work either way.
UTHH: Any tips for getting buy-in?
AG: Start with small wins. Email’s a big one—people ask, “Can it help me write this email?” Absolutely. Once they see that it works, they get curious. Then it’s: “Can it help me analyze this contract?” “Can it find subcontractor experience data?” And so on. You build trust by being useful.
UTHH: Any final thoughts?
AG: AI won’t replace people. But people using AI will replace people who don’t. And honestly, I think that’s a good thing.
UTHH: It’s refreshing to hear someone in construction talk about AI without fearmongering.
AG: I always say “please” and “thank you” to ChatGPT, just in case.
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