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The Reality Gap: John Ryan on Why Construction Tech Must Be Built from the Ground Up

Podcast with John Ryan from SymTerra

AuthorAuthor

Yoshi Soornack & James Garner
June 20, 2025

Proudly sponsored by ConstructAI, brought to you by Weston Analytics.

Morning Project AI enthusiasts,

In the rapidly evolving landscape of construction technology and AI, few voices are as grounded in reality as John Ryan, Director of SymTerra. We recently had the pleasure of hosting John on the Project Flux podcast, where he shared his refreshingly candid perspective on the disconnect between tech promises and on-site realities, and why construction technology needs to be built from the ground up—not the boardroom down.

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Takeaways

  • There's a massive disconnect between tech and on-site realities.

  • Accountability in construction tech is crucial for safety.

  • AI can help identify unique problems in construction projects.

  • Data silos hinder effective decision-making in construction.

  • Profit motives can lead to resistance against AI adoption.

  • Collaboration is essential for successful project delivery.

  • User-friendly tech solutions are needed for on-site workers.

  • The future of tier one construction companies is uncertain.

  • Empowering site teams can drive innovation in construction.

  • Interoperability among construction tools is vital for efficiency.

That’s it for today!

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See you soon,

James, Yoshi and Aaron—Project Flux