When we scroll through the latest headlines about artificial intelligence, it can feel like a never-ending loop of worst-case scenarios and stories of AI misuse. It's easy to get caught up in the negativity. And while there are certainly real challenges to address, it's just as important to remember there's plenty to be excited about.
For Autodesk Chief Marketing Officer Dara Treseder, that hope comes from watching how technology empowers humans to do their best work.
As Dara puts it:
"Technology is not in the driver's seat—we are. So, the sooner we embrace it, the sooner we bring our human ingenuity into technology. AI will lift the floor, but it's human ingenuity that's going to raise the ceiling."
On this latest episode of the Digital Builder podcast, Dara and I explore the positive side of innovation. We touch on how AI is enabling sustainable outcomes and what leaders are doing to attract and train new talent.
Check out our conversation below.
We discuss:
Autodesk's State of Design & Make Report is our flagship research, and if you haven't checked it out yet, you should.
The report looks across all the industries Autodesk serves, including AECO, manufacturing, media, and entertainment. Together, these "design and make" industries employ more than 300 million people worldwide. The goal is to uncover patterns, trends, and insights shaping how we design and build everything around us.
One of the most eye-opening findings this year centers on the industry's digital maturity.
"Eighty-six percent of businesses across all these design and make industries are saying that over the next five years, they want to be fully cloud-based," Dara says. For context, just about 3% of companies today are fully cloud-based.
That gap, she notes, represents a massive opportunity, especially for construction. "The reality is that where we are is a far cry from where we need to be. And in the construction space, I think there's a lot that we can do to solve our customer problems as we bridge that gap."
Of course, it's not just about technology for technology's sake. As Dara puts it, it's about helping teams "deliver faster, on time, and below budget"—and ultimately become the kind of partners clients return to again and again.
You can't really have a conversation about technology without talking about AI. It's become one of the most prominent themes in this year's State of Design & Make Report, showing just how deeply it's shaping the way we work.
Dara points out that "about 70% of construction companies are now realizing that AI is something that needs to be incorporated into workflows."
That said, to truly harness the technology, firms must prioritize training and upskilling their teams.
"What continues to exist is the skills gap. We still do not have the technical skills needed to be able to deliver on utilizing and adopting these tools in a way that can really push things forward," she remarks.
The good news is that Autodesk has already taken steps to close the gap. One way that the company is doing this is by making technology education accessible to everyone.
"We make our software available for free to students and educators all around the world," Dara explains. "If you want to upskill yourself, you can enroll in an accredited institution and use Autodesk software for free to get better at utilizing and bringing in technology into the construction workflow, all the way from pre-planning through to operations."
This might come as a surprise to some, given the environmental concerns around AI, but artificial intelligence can actually enable more sustainable outcomes. This is particularly true in construction, where technology is helping teams design smarter, reduce waste, and optimize resource use throughout a project's lifecycle.
"When we think about getting to those sustainable outcomes, AI technology is changing the game," says Dara. "One of the most successful use cases of AI technology right now is in achieving sustainable outcomes."
According to Dara, "Efficiency is sustainability. Reducing waste is sustainability. All of these things are really important not only to creating buildings that last the test of time, but also creating infrastructure and environments that can stand the changes that we're continuing to see in the environment."
She adds that AI's ability to turn data into actionable insight helps teams make sustainability part of every decision.
"AI helps guide us to make better decisions and can help with optimizing the use of materials, so we leverage them more efficiently."
Autodesk's Design & Make report found that attracting talent is the third biggest challenge for businesses.
To that, Dara says some of the most effective strategies she's seen include improving tech accessibility, being intentional about training, enhancing data visibility, and celebrating wins to make innovation feel real and tangible.
Improve tech accessibility
"Increasing accessibility is so important," Dara explains. "And obviously at Autodesk, we're eating our own dog food. We're leading the way there by making sure that our software is available to accredited institutions."
Giving more people hands-on access to technology not only builds skills but also sparks interest. When potential hires can learn and experiment early, they're more likely to see a future in the industry.
Be intentional with training
It's easy to create training programs, then call it a day. But we can't expect teams to grow if we're not giving them the time, space, and context to truly learn.
In today's fast-moving, competitive job landscape, companies need to be intentional about training their workforce. Also, don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box.
Dara points to customers hosting local "technology days," where crews drop by for free breakfast or lunch and learn how digital tools can improve workflows. "This really happens locally," she adds. "It happens in the community."
Improve data access and visibility
People can't do their jobs well if they're struggling to get the information they need. That lack of access can lead to workers feeling frustrated and disconnected from the bigger picture.
That's why Dara is a huge advocate for making the right data available, accessible, and shareable.
"People are starting to see, 'Wow, if I want to deliver on stakeholder management from pre-planning all the way to operations, wouldn't it be great if I could easily share my data in real time?'"
Better data collaboration leads to more efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability, which then helps firms attract tech-savvy talent who expect transparency.
Showcase the wins
Finally, show what success looks like. "Bring examples,” advises Dara. “'Here's someone just like you… here's how they did it.”
Sharing real-world stories turns innovation from an abstract idea into something relatable and tangible. When people see peers—a project manager, a contractor, or an owner—using technology to solve everyday problems, it clicks.
"When you have real-world examples, it starts to feel real. It starts to feel concrete and feel grounded in reality," she adds.
Highlighting these wins not only builds trust it also inspires people to want to be part of that success story. When employees and potential hires see real results, it boosts engagement and makes your company a place top talent wants to join and stay.
Digital Builder is hosted by me, Eric Thomas. Remember, new episodes of Digital Builder go live every week. Listen to the Digital Builder Podcast on:
or wherever you listen to podcasts.
