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ao Morin, Chief Technology Officer at JLL, a $24 billion global real estate services firm, is driving a comprehensive technology strategy that hinges on data, artificial intelligence, and cultural transformation. Since taking the CTO role two and a half years ago, Morin has been shaping the future of how technology functions across JLL.
Morin oversees a team of 600-700 software engineers and hundreds more data engineers, scientists, and AI professionals who build internal systems and external software products for clients to manage buildings, optimize facilities, and embed AI into their daily workflows. "Our team builds everything from scratch," Morin explained. "We're the builders behind both the platforms that run our internal operations and the SaaS products our clients rely on."
JLL's flagship innovation is JLL Property Assistant, an AI agent that supports property managers in overseeing maintenance, equipment health, and tenant satisfaction. Other solutions like Corrigo and Building Engines facilitate day-to-day operations across commercial properties, enabling efficiency through automation.
As AI reshapes how software is built, Morin is focused on transforming JLL's engineering culture to match. She described three key trends: coding less, reviewing more; shrinking Scrum teams; and end-to-end ownership. To facilitate this transition, JLL launched an internal program called AI for Engineering Excellence (APEX), which provides tools, training, and community forums to help engineers adapt and thrive in a world where AI is a collaborator.
Measuring the business impact of AI remains a challenge. "How do you translate AI-driven efficiency into bottom-line impact?" Morin asked. JLL's 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.
Looking ahead, Morin sees a world where buildings become more responsive and personalized. She's excited about AI's potential to revolutionize healthcare environments but also closely watching the challenges ahead, especially the explosive demand for energy that AI and data storage will create. "In three years, we could need ten times the energy we do today," she said with caution.
Morin believes the AI arms race won't be won by who adopts tools fastest, but by who best protects and leverages their data. "AI adoption is table stakes," she said. "The real competitive advantage is in the data you control and the trust you build around how you use it."
