Changing the World: How Todd Kremmin Accepted the Challenge

"Challenge accepted" is a call to action. It's a commitment to growth, innovation and excellence. It's about pushing boundaries, embracing new ideas and not shying away from obstacles.

Our people accept the challenge every single day – and we're showcasing a few of their stories. Today we connected with Todd Kremmin, a data scientist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to discuss how he and his colleagues are advancing digital transformation through innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. 

The challenge: 

The pace of technological change is faster than it’s ever been, and we’re experiencing an unprecedented digital shift when it comes to how data is analyzed, decisions are made and solutions are delivered. Our teams are innovating, accelerating and enabling adoption of digital, AI and generative AI (GenAI) solutions across our global footprint and end markets – both internally and externally.

Tell us more about this challenge:

At Jacobs, we’re operating at the forefront of digital transformation across multiple markets by integrating innovative technologies to drive efficiency, insights and value for our clients. By developing flexible, scalable digital capabilities, we’re helping our clients and teams respond faster to change – and deliver smarter solutions that span industries. 

We recognize both the immense potential and the challenges that come with adopting these solutions at scale. Navigating these complexities requires a strategic and methodical approach – one that balances pioneering the art-of-the-possible with real-world application. 

Our cross-cutting approach lets us unify our efforts, build reusable frameworks and scale innovation where it’s needed the most. It encourages sharing, collaboration and rapid adoption of AI powered solutions – while bringing together previously siloed models and approaches. I believe if we immerse ourselves into cross-market solutions, surrounded by supportive team members and leaders – our work will truly change the world.

What’s the hardest part of this?

Bridging the gap between technical capabilities and practical reality poses significant challenges. Speaking primarily to AI/GenAI, there is no shortage of ideas and use-cases to draw from across all markets. But the hardest part of this is really turning those ideas into tangible, scalable and impactful solutions. 

Many AI and GenAI concepts sound promising in theory, but when applied in real-world scenarios, they often face hurdles such as data limitations, integration complexities, regulatory/security constraints and user adoption resistance. Beyond technical feasibility, ensuring that AI-driven solutions provide real business value – whether by improving efficiency, reducing costs or enhancing decision-making – is critical. AI/GenAI must not only be accurate and powerful but also trustworthy, explainable and user-friendly. 

How do you approach this? 

Cross-functional collaboration is essential. AI/GenAI experts, domain specialists and end-users must work together to align development with real-world workflows – addressing industry-specific needs and fostering a culture where AI/GenAI is seen as an enabler rather than a disruption.

Our teams have partnered with industry leaders to securely leverage emerging large language models across multiple applications. Our approach prioritizes solving client challenges while enhancing decision-making, automating repetitive tasks and uncovering new insights that drive tangible value. 

How do you define success?​

Success isn’t just developing or deploying digital solutions – it’s about driving meaningful adoption both internally and externally. These solutions must be usable, scalable and deliver measurable value to our people and our clients. Through collaborating with supportive leaders and brilliant colleagues who share a passionate vision for our future at Jacobs and beyond – we’re collectively shaping the future of our industry.