McCarthy Building and Palantir Partner on AI for Construction Operations
McCarthy Building Companies and Palantir Technologies announced a multi-year partnership to deploy artificial intelligence across construction workflows, from design through field execution. The companies will build what McCarthy calls an AI Operations Suite called Pulse, designed to give superintendents and project managers real-time data for faster decisions on active job sites.
McCarthy, a privately held national builder with 160 years in the industry, will use Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform to connect its construction expertise with field teams. The system models McCarthy's workflows-estimating, contracts, bidding, quality control, logistics, and equipment planning-into a shared database that Palantir calls an Ontology.
Justin McFarland, McCarthy's Chief Digital Officer, said the partnership accelerated the company's ability to turn complex operational concepts into working solutions. "Beyond the ontology and technology itself, Palantir brings exceptional engineering talent and strategic thought leadership," he said.
How Pulse Works on Job Sites
Pulse surfaces critical information for field teams, cutting through email and document clutter. Dave Evans, a McCarthy Senior Superintendent, said the system lets him focus on delivering results rather than managing data. "By cutting through the noise and identifying what is most critical, I can devote more attention to delivering exceptional results for our stakeholders," he said.
The system handles scenario planning, risk analysis, and decision orchestration. Insights from one part of McCarthy's business-say, equipment logistics-can inform decisions in another area, like field execution.
Addressing Industry Pressure
Construction faces persistent labor shortages and operational complexity. Palantir's Head of Energy and Infrastructure, Tristan Gruska, said McCarthy is deploying an AI operating system designed to amplify people and tradecraft rather than replace them. "With AIP in the hands of their frontline teams, we are seeing what is possible when a world-class builder uses AI," he said.
McCarthy is also restructuring its internal technology team around embedded engineers to build software natively within the company.
For construction professionals managing complex projects, this partnership signals how major builders are moving beyond one-off software tools toward integrated systems that connect decision-making across the entire operation. Learn more about AI applications in construction, or explore how AI improves operations management.
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