Century-Old Builder Taisei Bets on AI to Empower Its Workforce
How a Construction Pioneer Is Reinventing Itself With AI
At 107 years old, Taisei Corporation could easily rest on its laurels. After all, the Japanese construction firm has literally built much of the country's modern infrastructure since its founding in 1917. But instead of looking backward, Taisei is making an ambitious bet on artificial intelligence to power its workforce into the future.
From Concrete to Code
The company recently announced full-scale adoption of ChatGPT Enterprise across its operations - with surprising results:
- 90% weekly engagement rate among employees
- 5.5 hours saved per worker each week on average
- 3,300 custom GPT applications developed internally
"We realized our greatest asset wasn't just our construction expertise," explains Kozawa Kentaro from HR Development. "It's our people's ability to adapt and innovate."
The 'Middle Out' Revolution
Taisei took an unconventional approach to AI implementation they call "Middle Out." Rather than imposing technology from above or waiting for grassroots adoption, they empowered their HR team to bridge the gap.
The strategy focuses on:
- Transforming AI from corporate mandate to employee ally
- Creating safe spaces for experimentation through training and hackathons
- Building trust with robust data governance frameworks
The results speak volumes - workers aren't just using AI; they're reshaping it to solve daily challenges.
Building Trust Alongside Buildings
The transition wasn't without hurdles. Security concerns initially slowed adoption until Taisei implemented:
- Strict access controls
- Comprehensive auditing systems
- Regular compliance checks
The payoff? Employees now confidently "talk shop" with AI assistants while protecting sensitive information.
Cultural Foundations Strengthened
The most unexpected benefit emerged in workplace dynamics:
- Junior staff reach senior-level output faster
- Veterans leverage AI for mentoring efficiency
- Cross-generational collaboration flourishes
The company plans to share its people-first model throughout Japan's construction industry and beyond.
Key Points:
- Taisei Corporation adopted ChatGPT Enterprise company-wide with remarkable success
- Their "Middle Out" implementation strategy balances top-down support with bottom-up innovation
- Employees created over 3,000 custom applications while saving significant time
- Robust security measures enabled widespread adoption without compromising data safety
