Autodesk University 2025 offered a vivid look at the future of design, construction, and technology integration. Our President, Ryan Briles, returned from the conference energized and affirmed. From sweeping advances in Agentic AI to hands-on applications of AR in the field, the trends emerging from AU 2025 confirm what we at OAR have long believed: the future is model-driven, integrated, and smarter than ever.
Here are Ryan’s key takeaways:
Agentic AI is Reshaping Early Design
One of the most discussed developments was the rise of Agentic AI in the design process. It’s more than automation; it’s intelligence embedded in the earliest stages of design. Conceptual layouts and options that once took days or weeks to generate can now be iterated on in near real-time. This shift means that architects and engineers can explore dozens of viable alternatives simultaneously, backed by performance data and visual feedback.
The biggest shift isn’t just speed — it’s capability. Teams can now generate and evaluate options rapidly, with AI helping prioritize for cost, sustainability, and feasibility. This will fundamentally change how conceptual design happens, especially in complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
For firms like ours, already deeply integrated into model-based workflows, this acceleration in the conceptual phase offers massive opportunity.
Validation of Our Vision Through Industry Case Studies
AU2025 also reinforced something deeply personal for us: we’re on the right track.
Many of the industrial projects featured at the conference — from infrastructure to manufacturing — mirrored the work we’re doing with partners in the recycling industry. The level of VDC (Virtual Design and Construction), BIM coordination, and model-driven execution on display matched the standards we’ve set over the past five years.
Our focus on OAR — integrating laser scanning with coordination and execution models — isn’t just innovative. It’s aligned with where the entire AEC industry is heading. Seeing that reflected at Autodesk University was a moment of deep validation for our entire team.
AR and Mixed Reality Are Becoming Standard Tools
Augmented Reality is no longer a novelty — it’s rapidly becoming a core layer in digital project execution.
Field teams are increasingly equipped with AR-enabled tablets and headsets to visualize models in situ, resolve conflicts in real time, and track issues directly from the field. Our partnership with Gamma AR puts us ahead of this curve. The platform’s growing capabilities make it clear: AR will soon be expected, not exceptional.
As construction sites become more digitized, the ability to overlay accurate models in the field, track installation progress, and capture discrepancies is becoming a baseline expectation. That’s exactly where we’ve positioned our tools and workflows.
Digital Twins + AI: The Next Major Frontier
The conversation around Digital Twins has matured. At AU2025, it was clear: the future isn’t just about visual replicas, but intelligent project environments that can query, explain, and predict.
Large language models are being embedded into digital twins, turning them into active participants in project management. Imagine asking your building: “What changed in the mechanical room last week?” or “What’s the projected energy use if we switch materials?” These scenarios aren’t theoretical anymore.
This is where AI moves from analysis to assistance. We’re not just collecting data — we’re conversing with our projects. And it’s coming fast.
Looking Ahead
Autodesk University 2025 wasn’t just a glimpse of what’s next — it was confirmation of what we’re already doing. The technology is catching up to the vision we’ve been building toward.
As we continue refining our tools, deepening our partnerships, and scaling our model-driven workflows, we do so with renewed confidence. We’re not just keeping pace — we’re helping set it.
And if AU2025 showed us anything, it’s that the future belongs to those who are ready to build it.
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