In this episode of Digital Builder, host Eric Thomas sits down with Dr. Sarah Buchner, founder and CEO of Trunk Tools, for a grounded, no-nonsense conversation about how construction teams can actually start using AI today. Recorded live at Autodesk University, the discussion moves past the high-level hype and into the real workflows where AI is already driving change—from automating white‑collar tasks to reducing rework and helping teams navigate labor shortages.

Drawing from her background as a carpenter, project leader, data scientist, and founder, Sarah breaks down what adoption looks like in the field, how to overcome resistance, and why embracing AI early is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.

We discuss:

• Why AI adoption struggles—and what actually helps teams get over the hump
• The biggest areas of ROI for AI today, especially in white‑collar construction workflows
• How autonomous AI agents differ from tools like ChatGPT
• The role of executives, legal, and IT in successful AI rollout
• Why vertical, construction‑trained AI models matter
• How AI can reduce rework, ease labor shortages, and let builders focus on building

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.