From Elon Musk to Mark Zuckerberg, the titans of tech today have more notoriety than movie stars of yore and, often, the egos to match. But at what point does idolatry--within the culture of tech and beyond it--and internal self-regard get in the way of progress rather than bolster it? This was the subject of Techonomy founder David Kirkpatrick's conversation with Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost at Techonomy 22, which took place November 13-15 at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Within moments of welcoming Anagnost to the stage, Kirkpatrick dove right in. "Do you think tech has an ego problem?" "I do," replied Anagnost, who used the phrase "celebrity technologist" to characterize leaders known as much for their personalities as innovations--and who may prioritize image over achievements.

Construction software giant Autodesk has doubled down on a commitment it made two years ago, when then-new CEO Andrew Anagnost said it was a construction software company first, so making its tools work in an automated construction workplace is its future. "We know that a future with more automation is necessary," Anagnost said at the company's annual Autodesk University conference and trade show in Las Vegas. "The fact that four billion people worldwide enjoy prosperity is good, but we also know that making more plans for more people is a reality we all need to face up to," he said. Anagnost and other executives said Auto desk would focus on how to better integrate its vast software library with the workflows of on-site robotics as well as with prefabrication and modular construction. He highlighted how customers such as modular builder Skystone and contractor Hensel Phelps are already deploying these capabilities today.