Data, AI, and the Future of Digital Construction: Key Insights from Autodesk University 2025

At Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, Cobuilder’s Product Manager Martin Nenov joined Chinkit Trivedi to present how the AEC Data Model API turns scattered project data into a shared digital language. This enables designers, contractors, and suppliers to collaborate seamlessly — moving projects faster and making smarter decisions. In this article, Martin shares his key takeaways from AU2025 and his vision for the future of digital construction.

A Turning Point in Digitalization

The construction industry has long been labeled as one of the least digitized sectors. But at Autodesk University 2025, a different story emerged: construction is now one of the fastest-moving industries when it comes to digital transformation. Reflecting on the event, Cobuilder’s Product Manager, Martin Nenov, shared:

“I felt really motivated to see how fast the industry is moving to digitalization. For sure it is one of the industries with the highest pace of digitalization.”

This shift is not only about adopting new tools, but also about building the foundations that make digitalization truly work: connected, reliable, and trusted data.

Why Reliable Data Matters More Than Ever

In an era where AI drives the next wave of digital transformation, data is no longer just a resource — it is the engine. The effectiveness of AI solutions depends directly on the quality of the data they process. Nenov emphasizes that the industry is finally aligning with Cobuilder’s long-standing mission:

“In the AI era, data is everything. And the quality of AI solutions depends on the quality of data — that is why we need data that is reliable and connected. The importance of data dictionaries and quality of data is something Cobuilder has been trying to educate the market on for years. Now I feel the market is mature enough to understand it.”

This maturity was clearly visible in the discussions and demos at AU2025.

Building a Common Digital Language

One highlight of the event was Nenov’s presentation with Chinkit Trivedi, showcasing the AEC Data Model API integration with the Cobuilder platform. The demo illustrated how project contributors could validate, enrich, and exchange data seamlessly — without even opening the BIM model. The process included:

• Validating models against information requirements.
• Enriching missing data from Cobuilder Require.
• Procuring products via Cobuilder Supply.
• Committing updates back with as-built product data.

This demonstrated a core principle of Cobuilder’s mission: interoperability is only meaningful if built on a shared digital language.

“Every integration and interoperability between two or more software solutions is pointless if there is not an established common language. Digitalization via automation is only possible when processes step on trusted and accessible data.” — Martin Nenov

Enabling the Digital Product Passport (DPP)

The integration shown in the demo is also an important step toward readiness for the upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) regulation. The DPP is an EU initiative that will require products to carry standardized digital information about their environmental impact, performance, and traceability throughout their lifecycle.

By mapping products from Cobuilder Supply to their exact installation locations within a project, the integration not only enables DPP readiness but also unlocks valuable Facility Management and reusability use cases. This is where Cobuilder’s solutions play a key role — ensuring that structured, trusted data flows seamlessly from design to operation and beyond.

Opportunities on the Horizon: APIs, MCP, and AI

Looking ahead, Nenov sees several key opportunities that will reshape the digital construction landscape:

• Durable APIs and Software Integrations
  Integrations between construction tools are expanding rapidly. Companies should prioritize platforms with robust, future-proof APIs that ensure scalability and connectivity across projects and stakeholders.
• Model Context Protocols (MCP)
  MCPs are redefining how we interact with BIM and other software ecosystems, enabling cross-platform workflows and new levels of collaboration.
• AI and Conversational Interfaces
  Artificial intelligence is not only accelerating feature delivery but also democratizing complex workflows. Conversational UIs, powered by AI, are emerging in design and engineering — where the right prompt could unlock weeks’ worth of value in architecture, analysis, or calculations.

“AI is shaping the industry to conversational user interfaces where complex solutions are going to be accessible for untrained users.” — Martin Nenov

Conclusion: A Data-Driven Future

Autodesk University 2025 made it clear: the future of construction is not just about technology adoption — it is about building digital trust through data. Reliable, connected data is the foundation for automation, interoperability, and the next generation of AI-driven workflows.

At Cobuilder, this vision has been part of our DNA for years. Today, the industry is finally catching up — and together, we are entering a new era where construction can be not only more efficient and scalable, but also more sustainable.