Virtual, For Real - The RapidPipeline Podcast

How are AI, automation, and open 3D standards reshaping the future of digital twins? In this episode of Virtual, For Real, Max Limper speaks with Jed Fisher, Managing Partner at 4D Pipeline, about the evolution of enterprise 3D, from CAD-based visualization to connected, automated, and increasingly AI-powered digital twin workflows. Drawing on decades of experience across automotive, aerospace, fashion, retail, manufacturing, and AEC, Jed shares how companies can move beyond disconnected 3D projects and build scalable workflows around their existing product data. In this episode, they discuss:  How enterprise digital twins have evolved over the past two decades Why disconnected 3D workflows and duplicated assets drive up costs How automation can make 3D content production more scalable The role of USD, glTF, and MaterialX in connected 3D workflows The gap between engineering and marketing teams Where generative AI brings the most value to 3D workflows How LLMs and AI can make digital twins more accessible Why clean, structured product data will be essential in the AI era One of the key takeaways from the conversation: AI is strongest where the output is judged, while traditional 3D remains essential where the output needs to be specified with precision. A conversation about digital twins, automation, AI, and what it takes to build enterprise 3D workflows that are ready for what comes next. 

What happens when computer vision, AI, CAD and digital twins come together on the factory floor? In this episode of Virtual, For Real, Max Limper speaks with Harald Wuest, CEO and co-founder of Visometry, about how these technologies are connecting digital 3D data with physical products and changing the way manufacturers approach quality inspection. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in computer vision and machine learning, Harald shares his journey from research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics to building practical solutions for real-world manufacturing environments. The conversation explores how digital CAD models can be used to compare virtual designs with physical components, helping manufacturers identify missing parts, misplaced elements and production deviations before they lead to costly rework. Max and Harald also discuss the differences between tablet-based inspection and traditional 3D scanning, the challenges of preparing complex CAD data for real-time tracking, and how AI can support the detection of small components such as bolts, holes and welding spots. Looking ahead, they explore the gradual shift from assisted inspection toward greater automation, the possible role of robots and smart glasses, and why the adoption of new technologies in industrial environments often takes longer than expected. 🎧 Listen on all platforms: https://podcast.rapidpipeline.com/ #3D #DigitalTwins #AI #ComputerVision #CAD #VirtualForReal

What does it take to pioneer 3D at scale? In this episode, Max sits down with Martin Enthed, former IKEA 3D leader, to explore how one of the world’s most iconic brands pushed the boundaries of CGI, AR, and real-time 3D, and what’s coming next. From early CGI innovation to AI-driven workflows, this conversation dives into the evolution of 3D pipelines and the challenges that still remain. Note: At the time of recording, Martin’s new company had not yet been announced publicly. The company he is now working at is called Physicl. Learn more at Physicl.ai. 💡 Key topics: How IKEA led the shift from photography to CGI The rise of AR and real-time 3D in e-commerce Why AI-generated images are ahead of 3D The challenge of turning visuals into usable 3D data The future of spatial understanding and AI-driven environments Why 3D modeling is still complex (and what could change)   One big idea: The future isn’t just generating images,  it’s understanding and generating entire 3D spaces. 🎧 Listen on all platforms: https://podcast.rapidpipeline.com/ #3D #DigitalTwins #AI #SpatialComputing #IKEA #XR #RealTime3D #VirtualForReal 

Is AI really about to replace 3D artists?In Episode 6 of Virtual, For Real, Max sits down with Tobias Nientiedt, 3D & CGI Generalist at Accenture, to explore the real impact of AI on professional 3D production.This episode goes far beyond the usual “AI will replace creatives” narrative. Instead, we take a deep dive into years of real-world experience and state-of-the-art 3D & AI workflows for eCommerce and enterprise.We discuss:Sample-less productionCAD-based 3D pipelinesFurniture CGI3D-powered retail experiencesDigital TwinsAI in production environmentsThe role of art directionEnterprise projects (including work with global brands like Nestlé)Tobias shares why AI, while powerful, is still not production-ready for high-end, client-driven workflows, especially when control, iteration, and precision matter.One key takeaway: AI is not a replacement for 3D artists, it’s another tool in the toolbox.If you work in CGI, digital twins, retail 3D, or enterprise content creation, this conversation gives you a grounded, industry-level perspective on where we really stand today.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of 3D, AI, and real production workflows.

In this episode of Virtual For Real, Max welcomes Michael Tanzillo from Adobe for a deep dive into the evolving world of 3D, AI, and digital twins.From his journey in games and VFX to shaping 3D workflows for enterprise, Michael shares how AI is transforming pipelines, why traditional job titles are disappearing, and how companies now hire for innovation over predefined skills.Michael is also running “The 3D Artists”, a community for 3D artists interested in diving into real-world use cases and jobs outside of games and VFX. Whether you're a 3D artist, student, or tech leader, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of 3D careers and why being adaptable has never been more important.🎧 Listen, get inspired, and don’t forget to connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Virtual For Real, Max Limper welcomes Patrick Cozzi, CEO & Co-founder of Cesium and Chief Platform Officer at Bentley Systems.Together, they dive into the fascinating world of digital twins, open standards, and planet-scale 3D visualization, from Cesium’s open-source beginnings to Bentley’s infrastructure platform, and even simulations on the Moon and Mars. Patrick also shares a deeply personal story that led him to found Create Access, a nonprofit using 3D creation to empower young people. 🎧 Tune in to explore how openness, community, and purpose are shaping the future of 3D. #3D #DigitalTwins #Cesium #Bentley #VirtualForReal #RapidPipeline

Digital twins only deliver outsized value when 3D starts at design. In this episode, Max Limper talks with Antonio González Viegas (CEO, That Open Company) about why many buildings still lack native BIM and how the industry fills the gap with scan-to-BIM. Antonio explains that the core blocker isn’t raw rendering tech, it’s semantics and a closed, proprietary ecosystem. Point clouds or “triangle soup” aren’t useful until you can select an object (e.g., a column) and attach properties. They dig into IFC/STEP bottlenecks for the real-time web (heavy parsing and thousands of Boolean operations before first frame) and how Fragments, an open-source format by That Open Company, pre-bakes geometry + metadata to load huge models in seconds after conversion. Looking ahead, the team is pushing two fronts beyond viewing: native open editing and automated 2D documentation (PDF plans) from 3D, still the industry’s dominant deliverable. 

In this episode of Virtual for Real, Max welcomes Jonathan Beals to dive deep into the challenges and real-world impact of digital twins, 3D design workflows, and the future of AI-powered product development. With over a decade at Nike pioneering digital pipelines and now advising major brands at Adobe, Jonathan shares actionable insights on why most digital initiatives fail, and how to make them succeed.

In this episode of Virtual for Real, the RapidPipeline Podcast, we welcome Kristian Sons, a digital twin and 3D content expert with deep industry experience, including his years at Adidas leading innovation around digital product creation (DPC) workflows. Together, we explore how digital twins are reshaping industries, especially in a market facing rising content demands, increasing complexity, and cost-efficiency pressure. Kristian introduces his framework: The Four Pillars of Digital Twin Optimization, a strategic approach to maximize the ROI of 3D assets at scale.