We tend to think of software as something abstract: lines of code, invisible systems, digital interfaces. But what if it’s also shaping the bridges we cross, the schools we build, and the cities we live in?
In this conversation with Clémence Arto, Autodesk’s Director for Government Affairs and Public Policy (EMEA), we explore how design software, data, and AI are quietly transforming the physical world.
From the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, where a digital twin helped guide restoration efforts, to the growing use of AI in construction and manufacturing, the discussion brings into focus a simple idea — the future is now being built twice: first digitally, then in reality.
As policymakers push to accelerate AI adoption in Europe and build a stronger data ecosystem, companies like Autodesk are navigating a fast-moving regulatory landscape while trying to scale innovation across borders.
The challenge now is not only technological, but also political: how to create the conditions for AI to deliver real-world impact, safely, sustainably, and at scale.