Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase. What began as tools that automate tasks is evolving into systems that can plan, decide, and act with limited human supervision.
This shift - from automation to AI agency - is quickly becoming a board-level conversation.
For leaders across the Design and Make industries, the challenge is no longer whether AI will transform their organizations. The question is how to lead that transformation responsibly, strategically, and at scale.
How do you move beyond experimentation to enterprise adoption?
What governance and operating models are required to scale AI safely?
And how do you ensure your organization captures real business value from emerging AI capabilities?
These are leadership decisions.
At Autodesk DevCon 2026, the AI Leadership Forum brings together senior leaders from across the ecosystem to explore these questions - and the strategies shaping the next era of AI-powered organizations.
Explore the AI Leadership Forum
Where AI Strategy Meets Executive Action
The AI Leadership Forum is a curated executive experience designed for senior decision makers responsible for shaping digital strategy and innovation across their organizations.
Taking place on Wednesday, April 15, immediately following the Autodesk Platform Services Keynote: Powering the Next Era of Innovation, the forum brings together leaders from Autodesk customers, partners, and industry innovators for a focused conversation on the shift of AI in the Design and Make industries.
Across three executive sessions, the program follows a clear narrative designed for leadership decision-making: the What, the Why, and the How of AI transformation.
The What: From Automation to AI Agency — What “Agentic AI” Means for Leaders
AI is evolving from tools that optimize existing processes to systems capable of planning, reasoning, and pursuing goals with minimal supervision.
In this opening session, leaders will explore what agentic AI means for real-world business outcomes. As AI moves from recommending actions to executing them, organizations gain new opportunities to accelerate decision-making, improve productivity, and unlock new value from their data.
Industry perspectives - including Vladimir Koylazov (CIO, Chaos) - will highlight how emerging AI capabilities are reshaping workflows across the Design and Make industries.
For leaders, the central question becomes clear: what new business outcomes become possible when AI actively participates in how work gets done?
The Why: The AI Opportunity — Why “Agentic” Capabilities Demand Business Transformation
As AI becomes more capable, its impact extends beyond technology into the core structure of organizations and how work is coordinated.
This session explores why unlocking the value of agentic AI often requires business transformation - from governance and operating models to how teams collaborate with intelligent systems.
Leaders including Nevin Yuksel-Ekici (VP, Platform Strategy, Autodesk) and Andreas Mauer (CTO, Bosch Building Technologies) will share perspectives on how organizations can navigate this shift while balancing innovation with responsible AI practices.
For executives, the key insight is this: capturing the value of AI requires more than adoption - it requires organizational change.
The How: Operating the AI Enterprise — Blueprints for Scaling Skills, Sourcing, and New Operating Models
Understanding AI’s potential is only the first step. The real challenge is operationalizing AI at scale.
In this session, leaders will explore how organizations can build the capabilities required to operate as AI-enabled enterprises - developing the skills, partnerships, and governance needed to support AI-driven workflows.
Discussions will focus on practical leadership decisions, including how to develop AI talent, navigate build-versus-partner strategies, and establish operating models that allow AI to scale safely and effectively across the organization.
For leaders responsible for transformation, the goal is clear: turn AI strategy into enterprise capability.
What Leaders Gain by Attending
The AI Leadership Forum is designed to provide more than insight - it creates an environment where leaders can engage directly with peers and industry experts shaping the future of AI.
By attending, leaders will have the opportunity to:
Connect with industry thought leaders
Engage with executives, innovators, and partners who are advancing AI across the Autodesk Design and Make Platform.
Build strategic relationships
Exchange ideas and build partnerships with leaders who are leveraging AI to create competitive advantage.
Identify the right path to adoption
Discover the resources, expertise, and ecosystem partnerships needed to successfully integrate AI into Design and Make workflows.
Turn AI strategy into action
Gain practical perspectives on how organizations are moving from experimentation toward scalable, enterprise-wide AI adoption.
Join the AI Leadership Conversation at DevCon
AI is transforming how industries design, build, and operate. But realizing its full potential requires leadership.
The AI Leadership Forum at Autodesk DevCon 2026 offers a unique opportunity for senior decision makers to step back from day-to-day execution and engage in strategic conversations about the future of AI in the Design and Make industries.
If you are responsible for guiding AI strategy within your organization, this forum is designed for you.