Digitize or Disappear: AI, Autodesk & the Future of Construction | Justin & Gus

Summary In this episode, Autodesk leaders Justin and Gus break down what it really means to digitize your business from end to end — from raw materials and manufacturing to design, construction, and operations. They explain how a true “digital thread” lets you connect product and building data, unlock AI at scale, and turn past projects into smarter decisions for the future. Anthony, Justin, and Gus dig into why 80–90% of data never gets used, how to move from “taxi driver” workflows to an Uber-style platform mindset, and why companies that don’t adapt their tech stack in the next 5–10 years may not be around. You’ll hear real-world examples across data centers, transformers, prefab, and even Game of Thrones–level media work — plus a candid look at trust, AI “nutrition labels,” and what digital maturity actually looks like for manufacturers and builders. Justin Mayle is a Business Unit Leader at Autodesk, working with customers across North America to guide their digital transformation. He helps owners, manufacturers, and AEC leaders evaluate where they are on the digital maturity curve, identify the next best step, and build connected, data-driven workflows that reduce late changes, improve profitability, and scale more sustainably. Gus Quade is a mechanical engineer turned digital transformation specialist at Autodesk. With hands-on experience in product design, automation, and manufacturing, he now helps companies connect design, fabrication, and field execution through Autodesk’s cloud platform. Gus works with hundreds of manufacturers each year to implement digital threads, configurators, and AI-enabled workflows that turn complex models and metadata into faster decisions and bolder designs. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 04:55 - Industry Shifts 09:50 - Cloud Adoption 14:45 - AI & Data 19:40 - Productization 24:35 - AI Tools 29:30 - Trust & Transparency 34:25 - Future Vision 39:20 - Team Collaboration 44:15 - Industry Change 49:10 - Community & Wrap-Up JUSTIN'S INFO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmayle/ Blog: https://blogs.autodesk.com/autodesk-life/author/justinmayle/ GUS'S INFO: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gus-quade/ Autodesk: https://www.autodesk.com/ PODCAST INFO: Website: https://FutureFactory.live Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0SsZRdrvWTUs1QY6Zu1sU6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/future-factory/id1659895549 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/207e04aa-11a1-4b28-964a-148608422a49/future-factory   FUTURE FACTORY SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefactorypodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureFactoryFF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurefactorypodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/futurefactorypodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@futurefactorypodcast?_t=8ZIxAf4Orra&_r=1 ANTHONY'S SOCIAL: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/anthonyamunategui/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.amunategui.3 Find great guests at PodMatch https://www.joinpodmatch.com/futurefactorypodcast