The Future of PLM Is Human? AI, Trust, Community & the Share PLM Summit 2026 Debate

What happens when some of the most respected voices in PLM gather in a Spanish vineyard to discuss AI, digital transformation, trust, community, and the future of engineering?In this special Share PLM Summit 2026 edition of The Future of PLM Podcast, host Michael Finocchiaro is joined by Jos Voskuil, Oleg Shilovitsky, Rob Ferrone, Patrick Hillberg, Nina Dar, and Maria Morris for a candid, unscripted discussion about the ideas that emerged from one of the industry’s most unique events.  The conversation explores why the human side of PLM remains the hardest part of transformation, whether AI will fundamentally reshape consulting and knowledge work, how organizations build trust during digital change, and why community may be becoming more important than technology itself.From AI adoption and organizational change to conference design and the future of professional expertise, this episode offers practical insights and thought-provoking perspectives from some of the industry’s most experienced practitioners.Topics Covered• The evolution of Share PLM Summit and its human-centered approach• AI’s impact on engineering, consulting, and PLM careers• Why trust may be the real ROI of conferences• Lessons from successful and unsuccessful PLM transformations• Human adoption versus technical implementation• Digital transformation beyond software deployment• The future of work in an AI-driven world• Community, collaboration, and knowledge sharingTimeline00:00 Welcome & introductions01:20 Why Share PLM Summit feels different03:30 Breaking away from traditional PLM conferences05:45 Why attendees travel across continents to attend07:35 PLM as a people-centered discipline09:50 AI, digital overload, and human connection12:40 Measuring conference ROI beyond leads and sales15:10 Most impactful presentations from the summit20:05 Data, AI, and the Gentelligence perspective22:10 Helena Haapio’s keynote and the future of work24:50 Will AI replace consulting and expertise?30:05 AI, critical thinking, and engineering risk31:10 Sponsors, trust, and community building36:00 Workshops, learning, and audience engagement42:20 Sustainability and digital product passports48:20 The Share Nest initiative51:55 The future of conferences and professional development58:20 Trust as the new business currency01:01:00 Community, networking, and collaboration01:03:40 The value of disagreement and debate01:05:00 One word that defines Share PLM Summit 202601:07:00 Closing thoughts#PLM #AI #DigitalTransformation #Engineering #Manufacturing #Industry40 #DigitalThread #DigitalTwin #ProductLifecycleManagement #IndustrialAI #FutureOfPLM #SharePLM #EngineeringLeadership #SystemsEngineering #Innovation #TechnologyLeadership