The conference opened with Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost's keynote. It was inspiring to see not just the vision, but the steps already being taken to make it real. Fusion, Forma, and Flow are poised to transform the digital ecosystem, expanding our possibilities and potential. At times it feels daunting: so many products, so much data, all increasingly interconnected. Yet the proof of concept and progress was evident everywhere.

And of course, the star of the show: AI. No one is talking about fax machines anymore; AI was on every stage, in every conversation. To my surprise (and relief), the conversation is moving away from AI as a human-life threat and toward AI as an embedded technology we must not only master, but collaborate with.

Wait, what? "Collaborate with the technology"? That was new. We've always thought of tools as something we use, not something we work with. However, this mindset shift was evident in almost every session. Neural technology, generative models, instant integration, assistant learning, and coordination across disciplines. All pointing back to one truth: humans still own the game. Technology has changed, but humans remain at the center. What's changing is the game itself.

Here are the hot topics that stood out:

1# AI is everywhere, but its impact is not yet everywhere.

2# Advancement is uneven, between companies, and even within companies.

3# If you see AI as a threat, start learning. You're already behind.

4# Implementing AI is not urgent.

5# There's much smoke; cases with real impact are rare.

6# Integration of data management and platform-based processes is happening—slowly.

7# If you're not making progress, even if it's just small steps, you're falling behind.

8# A favorite insight (from Jay Wratten, WSP United States Digital Lead): “Don't try to boil the ocean. Land and expand.” Start small, with quick wins.

Want more details about this amazing 3-day journey? Read the recap by our BMO, Franco Santillán.