As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday workflows across Design and Make industries, the question is no longer whether organizations should use AI, but how they can implement it to deliver meaningful value. As adoption accelerates, competitive advantage is beginning to move away from access to the technology itself and toward the ability to apply it effectively across systems, processes, and teams. These capabilities point toward a future in which AI becomes an active layer in how work is organized—connecting data, automating processes, and enabling more dynamic decision-making. But realizing that future depends on foundations that many organizations are still building. Ultimately, the opportunity ahead is substantial, and the organizations that succeed will not be those that adopt AI the fastest, but those that integrate it most effectively—aligning AI, data, and talent around strategic priorities. For the 2026 State of Design & Make: AI Pulse report, Autodesk surveyed and interviewed 2,500 global industry leaders across the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO); design and manufacturing (D&M); and media and entertainment (M&E) industries for their insights about AI’s impact on business today, and how to plan for an AI-forward future.
