TRXL 205: ‘Rethinking Your A/E Practice’, with Robert Otani and Alexandra Pollock
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Sep 17, 2025 Robert Otani, a veteran engineering leader at Thornton Tomasetti, and Alexandra Pollock, an expert in design technology and innovation, explore the future of engineering practices. They discuss the shift towards making technology a core component instead of an afterthought. Topics include implementing computation at scale, measuring the ROI of innovation, and the impact of AI on professional growth. Their insights on fostering an open learning culture through community events and the need for adaptive business models provide a fresh perspective on modern engineering challenges.
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Firm Knowledge As A Trainable Asset
- Thornton Tomasetti views firm knowledge as trainable like machine learning models and wants to distribute it broadly.
- Rob argues AI can deliver expert-level answers to less-experienced staff at the right time.
AI Compresses Professional Learning
- Generative AI compresses professional learning curves from decades to years by surfacing expert answers.
- Rob predicts faster professional proficiency if firms adopt AI correctly.
Asterix: Early Tool, Big Reaction
- Asterix (early tool) produced quick concept-level structural results that frightened engineers due to imperfect accuracy.
- Rob recalls it did a team's two-to-three week work in a minute but lacked early transparency and trust.