Vijay Sankaran on Digitizing Johnson Controls and the Future of Smart Buildings

Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

How can AI, digitization, and data create smarter, healthier, and more sustainable buildings?

In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Vijay Sankaran, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Johnson Controls, a global leader in smart building technologies. Vijay shares how he’s leading enterprise-wide digital transformation across a $23B company while scaling platforms like OpenBlue to optimize energy, equipment, and workplace performance.

He unpacks how traditional machine learning, generative AI, and agentic workflows are converging to deliver predictive insights, autonomous actions, and tailored digital experiences. Vijay also reflects on trends in hybrid work, his journey to board membership at Veralto, and why quantum computing is on his innovation radar.

Key topics include:

• AI-driven optimization of HVAC, energy use, and building health

• OpenBlue’s role in unifying smart building systems

• Applying generative and agentic AI to customer and employee experiences

• Trends in workplace utilization and digital transformation at scale