We talk a lot about AI in construction, but much of it still lives behind a screen. Robotics changes that. In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Tessa Lau, CEO of Dusty Robotics, to explore how robotic layout is helping construction teams bridge the gap between design intent and field execution. From creating a single shared truth on site to rethinking long‑standing workflows, Tessa shares how “physical AI” is changing how buildings get planned, coordinated, and built.

Drawing on her background in artificial intelligence and robotics, Tessa explains why the real value of robotics isn’t the robot itself—but the new ways of working it enables.

On this episode, we discuss:

• Why robotics represents “physical AI” and how it brings digital plans directly into the field
• How creating a single shared truth on site reduces rework, coordination risk, and uncertainty
• Why layout is a critical moment where digital design meets real‑world construction
• How robotic layout enables earlier multi‑trade coordination and shifts problem‑solving upstream
• The productivity gains unlocked by reordering work and parallelizing construction activities
• How layout precision supports prefabrication and paperless, model‑driven workflows
• Why many contractors adopt robotics using a crawl‑walk‑run approach to manage risk and build trust

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas from Autodesk.