![\"JLL](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755869297_39_960x0.jpg\")
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JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated) office in Brisbane<\/p>\n
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In an industry as rooted in physical space as commercial real estate, the digital revolution might appear peripheral. But for Yao Morin, Chief Technology Officer at JLL, the $24 billion global real estate services firm, its at the core of the company\u2019s future. Since stepping into the CTO role two and a half years ago, Morin has been driving a comprehensive technology strategy that hinges on data, artificial intelligence and cultural transformation. Under Morin\u2019s leadership, JLL is infusing intelligence into every square foot of the built environment.<\/p>\n
From Overhead to Strategy: Redefining the CTO Role<\/strong> AI Products That Talk to Buildings<\/strong> Engineering in the Age of AI: Smaller Teams, Bigger Impact<\/strong> To facilitate this transition, JLL launched an internal program called AI for Engineering Excellence (APEX). The initiative provides tools, training and community forums to help engineers adapt and thrive in a world where AI is a collaborator, not just a tool.<\/p>\n Measuring AI\u2019s Business Impact<\/strong> Creating an AI-Literate Culture<\/strong> The Built Environment of the Future<\/strong> Data as the Differentiator<\/strong> Peter High is President of Metis Strategy<\/a>, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble<\/a>. He also moderates the Technovation<\/a> podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Morin self-effacingly jokes that her job is “all overhead,” but in reality, she spends her days shaping the future of how technology functions across JLL. Her remit is vast: overseeing a team of 600\u2013700 software engineers and hundreds more data engineers, scientists and AI professionals. This group builds not just internal systems, but external software products that JLL clients use to manage buildings, optimize facilities and, increasingly, embed AI into their daily workflows. \u201cOur team builds everything from scratch,\u201d Morin explained. \u201cWe\u2019re the builders behind both the platforms that run our internal operations and the SaaS products our clients rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of JLL\u2019s flagship innovations is JLL Property Assistant, an AI agent that supports property managers in overseeing everything from maintenance and equipment health to tenant satisfaction. Other solutions like Corrigo and Building Engines facilitate day-to-day operations across massive commercial properties, enabling efficiency through automation. \u201cWith AI, buildings are beginning to feel more alive,\u201d said Morin. \u201cThe property assistant helps users not just react to issues but anticipate and plan based on data-driven insights.\u201d These products are not theoretical. They are built, tested and deployed first inside JLL itself. \u201cWe are client zero,\u201d she underscored. \u201cBefore we ship AI tools externally, we use them ourselves to ensure the data is safe, the models are accurate and the experience is seamless.\u201d<\/p>\n
As AI reshapes how software is built, Morin is focused on transforming JLL\u2019s engineering culture to match. She described three key trends:<\/p>\n\n
17,000 JLL employees have used its internal JLL GPT app, generating 18 million prompts, but the question of measuring business value from AI is less than settled. \u201cHow do you translate AI-driven efficiency into bottom-line impact?\u201d Morin asked. \u201cAre we just saving time, or are we generating new revenue? Are we improving margins?\u201d These are the types of questions boards are asking, and answers remain elusive. As Morin points out, even well-adopted tools must eventually show economic ROI, not just anecdotal benefits. She also noted the shift happening in client-facing business models, particularly for firms that bill by the hour. \u201cIf AI means fewer billable hours, how do you maintain revenue? That\u2019s a commercial challenge we\u2019re all going to face.\u201d<\/p>\n
JLL\u2019s success with AI is due in large part to its focus on cultural enablement, not just technical capability. Morin emphasized the importance of training, education and storytelling. \u201cThis is a fundamental change in how we work,\u201d she highlighted. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to launch the tech. You have to bring people along emotionally and intellectually.\u201d By building internal communities where employees can share how they\u2019re using AI, JLL has demystified the technology and fostered widespread adoption. Transparency, especially around how data and prompts are used, is essential. \u201cWe had to put up banners in our tools telling users we don\u2019t see your prompts,\u201d she noted with a chuckle. \u201cTrust is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Morin sees a world where buildings become more responsive and personalized. Shopping centers could suggest routes based on your preferences. Offices could automatically adjust comfort levels. Meeting rooms could self-release when unused. She\u2019s especially excited about AI\u2019s potential to revolutionize healthcare environments, from robotic assistants to AI-enabled drug discovery. But she\u2019s also closely watching the challenges ahead, especially the explosive demand for energy that AI and data storage will create. \u201cIn three years, we could need ten times the energy we do today,\u201d she said with a note of caution. \u201cWhere will that come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
In the end, Morin believes the AI arms race won\u2019t be won by who adopts tools fastest. Rather, it will be won by who best protects and leverages their data. \u201cAI adoption is table stakes,\u201d she said. \u201cThe real competitive advantage is in the data you control and the trust you build around how you use it.\u201d In an era where digital innovation is reshaping even the most physical of industries, Morin\u2019s work at JLL is proof that AI is not just about algorithms. It is about how we build smarter, safer and more human-centric experiences in every space we enter.<\/p>\n