CAD should be the easiest tool in the room, yet it still feels like stepping into a cockpit packed with controls you have to relearn every time. We sit down with Mark, a longtime developer and former Siemens leader, to talk about why AI is racing ahead in some areas while product design and manufacturing still feel stuck and why the biggest blocker is not geometry, it is the interface.

We break down what large language models are genuinely great at today: procedural work, fast research, documentation, and especially coding. Mark explains why “vibe coding” and multi agent workflows are changing software development, pushing value toward architecture, domain experience, and good judgment. We also get real about the messy side: non deterministic outputs, security risks, and the stress of managing agents that never stop running.

Then we move to the physical world. Robots look impressive on stage, but on the factory floor speed, sensing, touch, and reliability matter more than demos. We talk about physical AI, why humanoid robots are both tempting and often impractical, and where near term wins actually live, like AI that helps operators troubleshoot CNC errors instantly or reduces time wasted searching documentation.

Finally, we connect the dots back to CAD, CAM, and CAE: automated drawings, design checking, natural language design, generative design exploration, and the emerging standards like MCP that aim to connect AI to engineering tools. If you care about the future of engineering software, AI for manufacturing, and the next generation of CAD interfaces, this conversation will sharpen your thinking.