Trunk Tools CEO Dr. Sarah Buchner Featured on Autodesk’s “Digital Builder Podcast”

Episode Title: Why AI Adoption Fails and How Construction Leaders Can Fix It

Podcast Info: Digital Builder Podcast (Autodesk), Hosted by Eric Thomas

Trunk Tools CEO Dr. Sarah Buchner Featured on Autodesk’s “Digital Builder Podcast”

Trunk Tools Founder & CEO Dr. Sarah Buchner recently joined Eric Thomas on Autodesk’s Digital Builder Podcast for a practical, candid conversation about why AI adoption continues to fall short in construction—and what leaders can do differently.

Recorded live at Autodesk University, the episode moves beyond high-level AI hype and into the realities of implementation. Drawing from her experience as a carpenter, project leader, data scientist, and construction technology founder, Sarah shares what successful AI adoption actually looks like on real jobsites and inside real construction organizations.

Throughout the conversation, Sarah breaks down why many AI initiatives stall before delivering value, often due to misaligned expectations, resistance to change, or tools that aren’t built for construction workflows. She emphasizes the importance of starting with real problems—especially white-collar inefficiencies—and explains how autonomous AI agents differ from general-purpose tools like ChatGPT.

A recurring theme is leadership. Sarah discusses the critical role executives, legal teams, and IT play in enabling adoption, as well as why construction-trained, vertical AI models are essential for driving meaningful ROI. When implemented thoughtfully, AI has the potential to reduce rework, ease labor shortages, and free teams to focus on what matters most: building.

The episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective for construction leaders looking to move from experimentation to impact.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here: Why AI Adoption Fails and How Construction Leaders Can Fix It