Leaders In AI Summit Chicago 2026
Our Summit's
Leaders In AI SUmmit Chicago
Day 1:
12:45 PM - 6 PM
Day 2:
9:00 AM - 6 PM
September 15th-16th
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
Featured Speakers
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1:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Shoal Creek Room Inside Omni Barton Creek Resort
Day 1 WorkShop Series - Invite Only
Day 1 of the Leaders In AI Summit Austin 2025 will be held in the stunning Texas Hill Country at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. This invite-only segment of the summit is designed for a select group of senior executives to participate in deep discussions, practical insights, and valuable networking opportunities. The workshop provides an intimate and focused environment specifically tailored for high-level decision-makers within the AI community. Attendance is strictly by invitation to ensure meaningful engagement and impactful conversations.
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2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Session Location
Workshop
Governance in AI Deployment: Balancing Innovation and Control
In the rapidly evolving technology landscape, balancing innovation with control is crucial for successful AI deployment. This session will focus on empowering stakeholders to drive AI initiatives that align with business goals by building internal governance frameworks that foster transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment with responsible AI usage.
What You Will Learn:
- Developing Internal Governance Frameworks:
Learn about building governance structures that support innovation while maintaining strategic control. Understand how to establish internal guidelines and frameworks that empower your teams to innovate responsibly.
- Identifying Gaps in AI Roadmaps:
Discover often-overlooked areas within your organization’s AI strategy. This includes identifying governance gaps that could impact AI initiatives and understanding how to close them effectively.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Examine the importance of involving diverse teams from across your organization in AI projects. Learn how cross-functional governance can help mitigate risks and ensure alignment across departments.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Session Location
Roundtable
Executive Roundtable:
Responsible AI: Governance, Ethics, and Safety
As AI technologies continue to evolve, robust data governance and ethical AI practices are more important than ever. This roundtable will delve into the development and implementation of data governance frameworks, privacy and compliance issues, and ethical considerations in AI deployment. Participants will discuss how to ensure AI safety and build public trust through responsible AI usage.
What You Will Learn:
- Developing Internal Governance Frameworks:
Discover how to build governance structures that balance innovation with accountability. Learn to create internal guidelines that empower teams to innovate responsibly while maintaining strategic control.
- Identifying Gaps in AI Roadmaps:
Uncover overlooked areas in your organization's AI roadmap, including potential governance gaps. Gain insights on how to address these challenges to strengthen your AI initiatives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Understand the importance of involving diverse teams in AI projects. Learn how cross-departmental collaboration enhances risk mitigation, aligns objectives, and strengthens governance.
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5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Bob's Chophouse Main Bar
Day 1 Reception
Cocktail RECEPTION
Beverage Menu:
Premium Spirits:
Tito’s Vodka
Balcones Whiskey
Tequila 512
Gosling's Rum
Hendrick’s Gin
Craft Beers:
Karbach Ranch Water
Karbach Love Street
Elegant Wines and Champagne:
Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford
Prosecco: Lunetta
Chardonnay: La Crema
Pinot Noir: Mark West
Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Bob's ChopHouse
The Future of Intelligence:
Co-Pilots, Data, & Decisions
Location:
Following The Pre-Summit Day Workshop, we will be hosting an exclusive invite only Think Tank Dinner at Bob 's Chophouse which is next door.
Inside the Omni Barton Creek's Banquet Area
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Leaders In AI Chicago
2026 Agenda
Begins at 12:45 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
Pre-Summit Workshop Hotel Check-In
We recommend checking in at Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago before 12:30 PM to give yourself time to settle in and get oriented ahead of the day’s programming. While there’s no formal check-in window and we understand travel schedules may vary, early arrival is encouraged to ensure a smooth start.
For any questions regarding your stay or early check-in assistance, please contact the Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago front desk directly or connect with our team onsite.
Begins at 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Leaders In AI Summit Registration Desk
Registration & Networking
Upon arrival between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, please proceed directly to our registration area to check in. Simply provide your name and confirmation details at the welcome desk, where you'll receive your event badge and session materials. Once checked in, you’ll have time to meet fellow attendees and orient yourself before sessions begin promptly at 2:00 PM. Our onsite team will be available throughout the registration window to assist with any questions or special requests.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
AI Deployment Workshop
Sovereign AI in the Age of Agents:
Architecture, Control, and the Economics of Autonomy
Sovereign AI has become one of the most discussed concepts in enterprise technology. But what does sovereignty actually mean when your AI systems are autonomous agents? Agents consume tokens at 15-50x the rate of chatbots, make decisions regulators will scrutinize, and interact with your enterprise data in ways most architectures were never designed for. This workshop presents a five-dimension framework for sovereign AI in the agentic context: compute sovereignty, token sovereignty, data sovereignty, decision sovereignty, and operational sovereignty.
Each dimension maps to specific architecture decisions, from right-sizing across the full infrastructure stack to preparing enterprise data for agent-native consumption. Grounded in token economics analysis showing up to 18x cost advantages through infrastructure ownership and real-world deployment architecture from regulated industries, this session gives enterprise leaders a practical framework for maintaining control as agentic AI moves into production environments.
What You Will Learn:
- The Five Dimensions of Sovereign AI for Agents:
Sovereign AI in the agentic context requirescontrol across five dimensions: compute, token economics, data, decision governance, andoperations. You will get a practical framework that maps each dimension to specific architecturedecisions and organizational capabilities, with particular focus on regulated industries likefinancial services and healthcare.
- Token Sovereignty as a Scaling Enabler:
Agentic AI workflows consume 15-50x moreinference tokens than chatbots, making token economics the primary constraint on deploymentscale. You will learn how infrastructure choices (on-prem vs. cloud, model routing, sharedinference pools) create up to 18x cost advantages per million tokens and give organizations thedegrees of freedom to scale agents without runaway costs.
- Data Readiness for the Agentic Enterprise:
Just as SEO gave way to GEO (optimizing contentfor AI-driven search), enterprise data must be restructured for agent-native consumption. Youwill learn how agentic AI changes the way data is accessed, retrieved, and acted upon, andwhat steps organizations should take now to prepare their internal datasets for a world whereagents, not analysts, are the primary data consumers.
Peter orban
Enterprise AI Executive Strategiest
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Atrium Outside Main Stage
Afternoon Networking Break
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
AI Deployment Workshop - Session 2
From AI Activity to Accountability:
The New Path to AI ROI
Most organizations can measure AI adoption. Far fewer can explain whether AI is creating meaningful business value. As enterprise investment accelerates, leaders need a way to connect AI usage with workforce productivity, operational outcomes, governance, and measurable ROI.
This workshop explores how organizations can move beyond basic adoption metrics to understand where AI is delivering business impact, where workflows remain constrained, and how workforce intelligence can guide future AI investments. Using practical examples from enterprise deployments, attendees will learn how continuous visibility into work helps identify adoption patterns, operational bottlenecks, governance gaps, and opportunities to redesign work, not simply automate existing processes.
What You Will Learn:
Measuring AI Beyond Adoption Metrics:
Learn how leading organizations evaluate AI using business outcomes, workforce productivity, workflow efficiency, & operational impact rather than usage statistics alone.
Identifying Where AI Creates the Greatest Business Value:
Discover practical approaches for finding workflow bottlenecks, stalled adoption, and high-value opportunities where AI can improve execution, capacity, and organizational performance.
Building Accountability Into Enterprise AI Programs:
Understand how continuous operational visibility helps strengthen governance, identify unmanaged AI usage, measure organizational maturity, and create a stronger business case for future AI investment.
Turning Workforce Intelligence Into Executive Decision Making:
Explore how workforce and operational insights can help executives prioritize AI investments, support organizational change, and communicate measurable progress to leadership and the board.
To Be Announced
To Be Announced
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
TABLES 1-4
Executive Roundtable Discussions
Executive Roundtables Topic 1
AI Governance, Risk, And Compliance:
Enabling Scale Without Slowing Momentum
As AI becomes embedded in core business processes, leaders are being asked to manage risk and accountability without stalling progress. Governance is evolving from static policy into an ongoing operational function that must adapt as models, data, and use cases change.
Topic 1 Discussion Points:
- Measuring Tangible Benefits:
Techniques for quantifying direct financial gains from AI initiatives, such as cost reductions, increased revenue, and efficiency improvements.
- Evaluating Intangible Benefits:
Methods for assessing intangible benefits like improved customer satisfaction, enhanced decision-making capabilities, and innovation acceleration.
- ROI Frameworks:
Overview of various frameworks and models used to calculate AI ROI, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Value-at-Risk (VaR) assessments.
- Aligning AI with Business Goals:
Strategies for ensuring that AI projects are closely aligned with organizational objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Executive Roundtables Topic 2
Hybrid AI Infrastructure:
Balancing Cloud, Edge, And Cost
Preparing your business for the future involves adopting and integrating AI technologies that can scale and evolve with emerging trends. This roundtable will focus on strategies for building scalable AI infrastructure, optimizing AI performance, and navigating multi-cloud environments.
Topic 2 Discussion Points:
- Infrastructure Optimization:
Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.
- Performance Enhancements:
Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.
- Enterprise Integration:
Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.
- Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:
Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
Executive Roundtables Topic 3
The Human Layer Of AI:
Adoption, Trust, And Organizational Change
Beyond models and infrastructure, AI success increasingly depends on how people interact with intelligent systems. Leaders are navigating new dynamics around trust, decision ownership, and changing roles as AI becomes part of everyday work.
Topic 3 Discussion Points:
- Framework Development:
Learn how to develop and implement robust data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, integrity, and accessibility.
- Privacy and Compliance:
Address the complexities of data privacy and compliance, and explore strategies for maintaining regulatory standards in AI initiatives.
- Ethical AI Deployment:
Engage in discussions on mitigating biases in AI models, ensuring transparency, and promoting ethical AI practices.
- AI Safety:
Discuss best practices for ensuring AI safety, including risk management strategies and the development of safety protocols.
Executive Roundtables Topic 4
Agentic AI At Scale:
From Experiments To Enterprise Impact
As enterprises move beyond AI pilots, agentic systems are emerging as a new layer of intelligence across workflows, applications, and decision making. While experimentation is widespread, scaling agents introduce new challenges around reliability, coordination, and organizational trust.
Topic 4 Discussion Points:
- Infrastructure Optimization:
Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.
- Performance Enhancements:
Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.
- Enterprise Integration:
Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.
- Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:
Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Present Your executive roundTables Findings
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago Bar
After-Party
Cocktail Hour
Beverage Menu:
Premium Spirits:
Tito’s Vodka
Balcones Whiskey
Tequila 512
Gosling's Rum
Hendrick’s Gin
Craft Beers:
Karbach Ranch Water
Karbach Love Street
Elegant Wines and Champagne:
Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford
Prosecco: Lunetta
Chardonnay: La Crema
Pinot Noir: Mark West
Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Intimate Think Tank Dinner - Invite Only
Directly After Day 1 Workshop
The Think Tank Dinner is a private, invitation-only gathering of senior executives, speakers, and partners.
Attendance is limited and separate from the Day 1 Workshop & Day 2 Main Summit. Participation requires explicit confirmation in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
This dinner is designed for in-depth discussion and peer exchange in a small-group setting. Guests not confirmed for the dinner should plan to depart following the cocktail reception.
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
Arrivals & REGISTRATION
Start your Leaders In AI Summit experience by checking in at the Leaders in AI Summit hosted at the luxurious Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago in Chicago, Illinios. Our VIP Registration Team will greet you in the lobby with your VIP badges and a complimentary gift bag. Enjoy artisian coffee, tropical fruit, and pastries while you prepare for an exciting day of insights and exclusive networking.
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Opening Remarks
Kick off the summit with opening remarks from Robert Jaggers, CEO of the Institute for AI Transformation, as he introduces the themes and priorities for the day ahead. This brief session will lead into our opening panel, setting the focus for impactful discussions to follow.
9:10 AM - 9:50 AM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Opening Panel
THE RACE FOR ENTERPRISE AI:
AGENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE & EXECUTIVE DECISIONS
AI initiatives hold the promise of transformation, yet many organizations struggle to move beyond pilot phases, leaving potential value unrealized. Research shows that the majority of AI pilots stall due to misaligned goals, resource limitations, and insufficient cross-functional buy-in. These challenges often lead to delayed ROI, wasted investments, and reduced stakeholder confidence. This panel will uncover the key reasons why pilots fail and offer actionable strategies to build scalable, enterprise-wide AI frameworks that deliver meaningful results.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Identify Core Barriers to Scaling AI:
Understand the most common pitfalls in AI pilot projects, including resource inefficiencies, skill shortages, and organizational misalignment.
- Develop an effective Enterprise-Wide Framework for AI:
Gain insights into embedding AI initiatives within business units, fostering ownership, and aligning projects with strategic goals to achieve production-ready success.
- Deliver ROI Through Scalable AI:
Gain insights into optimizing resource allocation, aligning AI investments with measurable outcomes, and sustaining stakeholder confidence.
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John Encizo
Chief Technology Officer
Dan Schneider
AI Leader
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
9:50 AM - 10:30 AM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Featured Panel
THE MODERN AI STACK FOR BFSI:
DATA READINESS, ENTERPRISE CONTEXT & AGENTIC AI
Financial institutions are moving beyond AI copilots toward enterprise AI systems capable of orchestrating complex workflows across customer service, fraud detection, underwriting, compliance, software engineering, and internal operations. Success now depends on far more than selecting a foundation model... it requires trusted enterprise data, enterprise context, Model Context Protocol (MCP), APIs, orchestration frameworks, and production-ready infrastructure.
This panel explores how leading financial institutions are modernizing their AI stacks, preparing enterprise data for intelligent systems, and deploying agentic workflows that securely connect AI to business applications while delivering measurable business value at scale.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Building Enterprise Context for AI:
Learn how leading financial institutions are connecting enterprise knowledge, business systems, and real-time data to enable AI agents that reason with context rather than isolated prompts.
- Deploying Agentic AI at Scale:
Explore how organizations are moving beyond copilots by orchestrating AI agents across customer operations, software engineering, fraud detection, compliance, and enterprise workflows.
- Advancing AI Governance and Leadership:
Learn how human oversight frameworks, including reinforcement learning and hybrid architectures, can empower leaders to ensure responsible and trustworthy AI deployment at scale.
Asad Qureshi
Principal, Automation, & AI
Chris Jones
Head of AI Design
Glen Gomez Zuazo
Senior Director IT Architecture
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Atrium
Opening Networking Break
11:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Featured Panel
The Enterprise AI Playbook for 2027:
What Leaders Must Decide, Fund, & Stop Doing
In an era of rapid disruption, organizations that neglect the human dimension of transformation fall behind. This dynamic panel of CXOs will reveal how people-centered approaches ignite progress, unite teams, and reinforce company culture. You’ll uncover practical methods to secure stakeholder buy-in, dismantle resistance, and foster an adaptable mindset that embraces ongoing evolution. Expect candid discussions on real-world success stories, alongside proven frameworks that keep your workforce energized and your organization moving forward.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Active Buy-In & Alignment:
Explore the complexities of building stakeholder consensus—particularly when up to 70% of large-scale change initiatives fail due to insufficient engagement. Panelists will discuss how to secure cross-functional support, reduce friction, and unify teams to accelerate growth.
- Embedding Agility & Resilience:
Examine the critical need for adaptable cultures ready to embrace new processes. Panelists will provide insights on developing resilience at every level of the organization, ensuring a confident response to market shifts and fostering an environment that propels innovation.
- Measuring & Sustaining Adoption:
Discover how to track the impact of transformation efforts well beyond the launch phase. Panelists will share approaches for maintaining momentum through transparent metrics, iterative improvements, and leadership commitment—transforming early wins into lasting results.
Ari Kaplan
Head of Evangelism
Amol Bargaje
Chief Information Officer
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
12:10 PM - 12:55 PM
Atrium
Lunch Hosted By the
institute for ai transformation
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12:55 PM - 1:20 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Featured Panel
Guardians of the Digital Galaxy:
Navigating Cybersecurity in the AI Era
In the critical panel 'Guardians of the Digital Frontier: Navigating Cybersecurity in the AI Era,' we explore the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, a domain where digital threats evolve as rapidly as the technologies to counter them. This session charts the transformation from early digital defense systems to today's battle against sophisticated AI-powered cyber threats, highlighting AI's dual role as both a formidable ally and a potential adversary in cybersecurity.
As AI systems evolve beyond passive assistants into autonomous technologies capable of executing workflows, coordinating decisions, and interacting directly with customers, organizations are entering a new era of agentic commerce. The challenge is no longer simply implementing AI tools, but determining how autonomous systems can operate responsibly across customer experiences, transactions, service environments, and enterprise workflows.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- AI as Both Asset and Threat:
A comprehensive understanding of the dual role of AI as both a formidable asset and a potential threat in the realm of cybersecurity.
- Risk Management in High-Stakes Industries
Strategies that are most effective in high-stakes industries, such as healthcare or finance, to ensure AI safety is not compromised by the pursuit of innovation.
- Emerging Threats and Trends:
Insights into the latest AI-driven cybersecurity threats and trends that are shaping the security landscape.
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
1:20 PM - 2:10 PM
TABLES 1-8
Executive Roundtable Discussions
Executive Roundtables Topic 1
AGENTIC AI ARCHITECTURES:
BUILDING THE AUTONOMOUS ENTERPRISE
As enterprises deploy AI agents into production, success depends on far more than selecting a foundation model. This discussion explores enterprise context, Model Context Protocol (MCP), APIs, orchestration frameworks, and production architectures required to build secure, reliable, and scalable agentic AI systems.
Topic 1 Discussion Points:
- Enterprise Context, Memory & Retrieval:
Explore how organizations are leveraging RAG, vector databases, knowledge graphs, enterprise memory, and real-time business context to improve agent reasoning, accuracy, and decision quality.
- MCP, APIs & Enterprise Integration:
Discuss strategies for integrating AI agents with enterprise applications through Model Context Protocol (MCP), APIs, tool calling, enterprise connectors, and secure data access frameworks.
- Agent Orchestration, Observability & Governance:
Examine the architectures, orchestration frameworks, monitoring capabilities, and governance practices required to coordinate multi-agent systems and operate autonomous AI reliably at enterprise scale.
Executive Roundtables Topic 2
THE ECONOMICS OF ENTERPRISE AI:
Cost, Value & Strategic Decisions
As AI adoption accelerates, organizations are navigating increasingly complex investment decisions across infrastructure, models, software, data, and talent. This discussion explores how enterprises are managing total cost of ownership, reducing shadow AI and fragmented technology investments, modernizing legacy IT environments, and measuring long-term business value from AI.
Topic 2 Discussion Points:
- Total Cost of Ownership & AI Investment:
Explore the full financial impact of enterprise AI, including infrastructure, software, data modernization, implementation, governance, and long-term operational costs.
- Enterprise Procurement & Vendor Strategy:
Discuss approaches for evaluating AI platforms, foundation models, infrastructure providers, and strategic technology partnerships while reducing duplication, managing risk, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- Business Value, ROI & Token Economics:
Examine how organizations are measuring AI investments through business outcomes, productivity gains, token consumption, inference costs, utilization, and long-term enterprise value.
Executive Roundtables Topic 3
HYBRID AI INFRASTRUCTURE:
COMPUTE, LATENCY & ENTERPRISE SCALE
Enterprise AI infrastructure is rapidly evolving as organizations balance public cloud, private infrastructure, edge computing, and sovereign AI environments. This discussion explores workload placement, compute optimization, latency requirements, and the infrastructure strategies required to deploy AI reliably at enterprise scale.
Topic 3 Discussion Points:
- Workload Placement & Infrastructure Strategy:
Explore how organizations are evaluating cloud, on-premises, edge, and sovereign AI environments while optimizing workload placement based on cost, security, latency, performance, and regulatory requirements.
- Compute, Memory & Performance Optimization:
Discuss strategies for maximizing GPU utilization, addressing HBM memory constraints, optimizing networking and storage, and improving both training and inference performance across enterprise AI workloads.
- Enterprise AI Operations & Scalability:
Examine the operational frameworks, observability, resiliency, and infrastructure automation required to scale production AI workloads while balancing reliability, latency, availability, and cost.
Executive Roundtables Topic 4
Enterprise AI Transformation:
People, Process & Change Management
Successfully scaling AI requires organizations to rethink how people work, how decisions are made, and how business processes are designed. This discussion explores the leadership, operating models, workforce strategies, and change management practices required to turn AI investments into lasting business outcomes.
Topic 4 Discussion Points:
- Operating Model Transformation:
Explore how organizations are redesigning business processes, operating models, governance structures, and decision-making to embed AI across core business functions.
- Enterprise Adoption & Workforce Enablement:
Explore strategies for driving enterprise-wide adoption while aligning AI initiatives with business objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Leadership, Talent & Change Management:
Examine how executive leadership, organizational culture, change management, and cross-functional alignment are accelerating AI transformation while reducing resistance and sustaining long-term adoption.
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1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Present Your executive roundTables Findings
Up next, each roundtable will share their key takeaways with the full audience. Please designate one representative from your table to go on stage and briefly present your group’s findings and discussion highlights.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Atrium
Afternoon Networking Break
3:30 PM - 4:10 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Featured Panel
Industrial AI at Scale: Building Autonomous Supply Chains, Intelligent Factories & Enterprise Operations
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industrial operations at a pace not seen since the introduction of enterprise software and automation. As organizations move beyond isolated pilots, the next competitive advantage will come from deploying AI across the entire value chain—from planning and procurement to manufacturing, logistics, and operational decision-making.This executive panel examines how leading organizations are scaling Industrial AI to build autonomous supply chains, intelligent factories, and enterprise operations that are faster, more resilient, and increasingly self-optimizing. Join senior technology and operations leaders as they discuss the architectural decisions, governance models, workforce strategies, and measurable business outcomes that define successful enterprise AI deployments.Whether you’re modernizing legacy operations or designing the next generation of intelligent manufacturing, this session delivers practical frameworks for moving from experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Building the Autonomous Enterprise
Discover how leading manufacturers and global supply chains are evolving from traditional automation toward AI-powered autonomous operations. Learn the architectural, organizational, and technology decisions required to scale Industrial AI across complex enterprises.
- Scaling AI Beyond Successful Pilots
Most organizations can build an AI proof of concept. Far fewer can operationalize AI across business units, manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and global operations. Explore the governance, infrastructure, and leadership practices that separate enterprise-scale success from pilot fatigue.
- Reinventing Manufacturing Through Intelligent Operations
Learn how AI is transforming production planning, quality assurance, predictive maintenance, scheduling, inventory optimization, and factory execution systems to create more adaptive, efficient, and resilient manufacturing environments.
James Peterson
Chief Information Officer
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Featured Panel
Navigating the Human element of AI
Enterprise AI adoption isn’t about quick wins or one-off pilots — it’s about the hard-earned lessons that transform experimentation into real business impact. This fireside chat cuts through the hype to explore what it actually takes to drive adoption across a complex organization. From standing up sandbox environments and leveraging synthetic data, to building frameworks for use case intake and collaborating with Finance on productivity-based ROI, this session offers practical insights on scaling responsibly. You’ll learn how to activate employees through grassroots programs like Office Hours and Hackathons, use AI to augment — not replace — teams, and unlock the hidden value of unstructured documents. Leaders will leave with actionable strategies for navigating cultural resistance, aligning stakeholders, and embedding governance that evolves alongside innovation.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Breaking Through Adoption Barriers:
Learn how to create structured, low-risk experimentation environments using sandbox setups, obfuscated/synthetic data, and use-case intake frameworks to identify real value opportunities.
- Human-in-the-Loop at Scale:
Explore how AI can augment — not replace — employees, expanding team capabilities through tools like Copilot and intelligent automation that empower generalists and specialists alike.
- Governance You Can Use:
Walk away with a real-world perspective on how to assess vendors, stay aligned with shifting policy landscapes, and embed governance into everyday AI operations.
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago - Main Stage
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago Bar
After-Party
Cocktail Hour
Beverage Menu:
Premium Spirits:
Tito’s Vodka
Balcones Whiskey
Tequila 512
Gosling's Rum
Hendrick’s Gin
Craft Beers:
Karbach Ranch Water
Karbach Love Street
Elegant Wines and Champagne:
Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford
Prosecco: Lunetta
Chardonnay: La Crema
Pinot Noir: Mark West
Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
TBA
Intimate Think Tank Dinner - Invite Only
Directly After Day 2 Main Summit
The Think Tank Dinner is a private, invitation-only gathering of senior executives, speakers, and partners.
Attendance is limited and separate from the Day 2 Main Summit. Participation requires explicit confirmation in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
This dinner is designed for in-depth discussion and peer exchange in a small-group setting. Guests not confirmed for the dinner should plan to depart following the cocktail reception.
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Arrivals & REGISTRATION
Start your Leaders In AI Summit experience by checking in at the Leaders in AI Summit hosted at the luxurious Marriott Marquee in New York City. Our VIP Registration Team will greet you in the lobby with your VIP badges and a complimentary gift bag. Enjoy artisian coffee, tropical fruit, and pastries while you prepare for an exciting day of insights and exclusive networking.
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
Main Stage
Opening Remarks
Kick off the summit with opening remarks from Robert Jaggers, CEO of the Institute for AI Transformation, as he introduces the themes and priorities for the day ahead. This brief session will lead into our opening panel, setting the focus for impactful discussions to follow.
9:10 AM - 9:50 AM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Opening Panel
THE RACE FOR ENTERPRISE AI:
AGENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE & EXECUTIVE DECISIONS
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future initiative. It is embedded in board-level priorities and capital allocation decisions across global enterprises. The question is no longer whether to invest in AI, but how to scale it in a way that delivers sustained competitive advantage and measurable business impact.
While adoption has accelerated, enterprise-wide execution remains uneven. Many organizations have proven isolated use cases, yet struggle to translate early momentum into integrated, scalable systems that drive measurable performance. As agentic AI, hybrid architectures, and distributed inferencing reshape enterprise requirements, executive leaders must align governance, infrastructure, and investment strategy to move from experimentation to durable, enterprise-scale capability.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Clarify the Barriers to Enterprise-Scale AI:
Understand the most common structural and organizational challenges that prevent AI initiatives from reaching production maturity, including misaligned ownership, insufficient infrastructure readiness, and unclear value measurement.
- Define the Infrastructure and Governance Required for Agentic Systems
Explore how hybrid deployment models, secure data environments, and cross-functional governance frameworks are evolving to support scalable AI and autonomous systems.
- Align AI Investment With Measureable Business Impact
Gain practical insight into how executive teams are structuring funding models, accountability frameworks, and performance metrics to translate AI ambition into enterprise results.
John Encizo
Chief Technology Officer
Samleo Joseph PHD
VP- Research, Development & Innovation (RDI)
Bo Xu
SVP, Head of Data & Analytics
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Pietro Fabiani
AI Leader
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
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9:50 AM - 10:30 AM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Featured Panel
Inference Where it matters:
Running AI Across Banks, Insurers, and the Edge of the Enterprise
AI is no longer defined by how models are trained, but by where and how they are deployed.
As enterprises move from experimentation to real-world impact, inference has become the critical layer driving value across banks, insurers, and edge environments. The challenge is no longer building models, but running them reliably across distributed systems where latency, cost, security, and regulatory constraints all matter. This panel explores what it actually takes to operationalize AI at the edge of the enterprise. From deploying models inside highly regulated environments to balancing performance with infrastructure constraints, leaders will share how they are making AI work where decisions are made in real time.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- From Models to Decisions in Real Time
Explore how enterprises are shifting focus from training to inference, embedding AI into live workflows where speed, accuracy, and operational trust directly impact business outcomes.
- Running AI at the Edge of the Enterprise
Learn how organizations are architecting AI systems across on-prem, hybrid, and edge environments to meet latency, cost, and performance requirements.
- Inference at Scale in Regulated Environments
Understand how financial institutions and insurers are deploying AI systems in production, where reliability, auditability, and compliance are non-negotiable.
Elizabeth Walsh
Vice President, Actuary
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Nigel Noyes
Head of Data Analytics Strategy, Chase
Purvil Patel
Chief Compliance Technology Officer
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Atrium
Opening Networking Break
11:30 AM - 12:05 PM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Featured Panel
The Enterprise AI Playbook for 2026:
What Leaders Must Decide, Fund, & Stop Doing
In an era of rapid disruption, organizations that neglect the human dimension of transformation fall behind. This dynamic panel of CXOs will reveal how people-centered approaches ignite progress, unite teams, and reinforce company culture. You’ll uncover practical methods to secure stakeholder buy-in, dismantle resistance, and foster an adaptable mindset that embraces ongoing evolution. Expect candid discussions on real-world success stories, alongside proven frameworks that keep your workforce energized and your organization moving forward.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Active Buy-In & Alignment:
Explore the complexities of building stakeholder consensus—particularly when up to 70% of large-scale change initiatives fail due to insufficient engagement. Panelists will discuss how to secure cross-functional support, reduce friction, and unify teams to accelerate growth.
- Embedding Agility & Resilience:
Examine the critical need for adaptable cultures ready to embrace new processes. Panelists will provide insights on developing resilience at every level of the organization, ensuring a confident response to market shifts and fostering an environment that propels innovation.
- Measuring & Sustaining Adoption:
Discover how to track the impact of transformation efforts well beyond the launch phase. Panelists will share approaches for maintaining momentum through transparent metrics, iterative improvements, and leadership commitment—transforming early wins into lasting results.
Greg Nelson
Executive Director, Data Strategy & Governance
Paul Pallath
Chief Data & AI Officer
Brian Ellis
Chief Information & Technolog Officer
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
12:05 PM - 12:45 PM
Atrium
Lunch Hosted By the
institute for ai transformation
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
TABLES 1-8
Executive Roundtable Discussions
Executive Roundtables Topic 1
AI Governance, Risk, And Compliance:
Enabling Scale Without Slowing Momentum
As AI becomes embedded in core business processes, leaders are being asked to manage risk and accountability without stalling progress. Governance is evolving from static policy into an ongoing operational function that must adapt as models, data, and use cases change.
Topic 1 Discussion Points:
- Measuring Tangible Benefits:
Techniques for quantifying direct financial gains from AI initiatives, such as cost reductions, increased revenue, and efficiency improvements.
- Evaluating Intangible Benefits:
Methods for assessing intangible benefits like improved customer satisfaction, enhanced decision-making capabilities, and innovation acceleration.
- ROI Frameworks:
Overview of various frameworks and models used to calculate AI ROI, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Value-at-Risk (VaR) assessments.
- Aligning AI with Business Goals:
Strategies for ensuring that AI projects are closely aligned with organizational objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Executive Roundtables Topic 2
Hybrid AI Infrastructure:
Balancing Cloud, Edge, And Cost
Preparing your business for the future involves adopting and integrating AI technologies that can scale and evolve with emerging trends. This roundtable will focus on strategies for building scalable AI infrastructure, optimizing AI performance, and navigating multi-cloud environments.
Topic 2 Discussion Points:
- Infrastructure Optimization:
Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.
- Performance Enhancements:
Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.
- Enterprise Integration:
Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.
- Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:
Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
Executive Roundtables Topic 3
The Human Layer Of AI:
Adoption, Trust, And Organizational Change
Beyond models and infrastructure, AI success increasingly depends on how people interact with intelligent systems. Leaders are navigating new dynamics around trust, decision ownership, and changing roles as AI becomes part of everyday work.
Topic 3 Discussion Points:
- Framework Development:
Learn how to develop and implement robust data governance frameworks that ensure data quality, integrity, and accessibility.
- Privacy and Compliance:
Address the complexities of data privacy and compliance, and explore strategies for maintaining regulatory standards in AI initiatives.
- Ethical AI Deployment:
Engage in discussions on mitigating biases in AI models, ensuring transparency, and promoting ethical AI practices.
- AI Safety:
Discuss best practices for ensuring AI safety, including risk management strategies and the development of safety protocols.
Executive Roundtables Topic 4
Agentic AI At Scale:
From Experiments To Enterprise Impact
As enterprises move beyond AI pilots, agentic systems are emerging as a new layer of intelligence across workflows, applications, and decision making. While experimentation is widespread, scaling agents introduce new challenges around reliability, coordination, and organizational trust.
Topic 4 Discussion Points:
- Infrastructure Optimization:
Explore strategies for building and scaling AI infrastructure that can handle growing data and processing demands efficiently.
- Performance Enhancements:
Discuss methods for optimizing the performance and efficiency of AI workloads, including leveraging edge computing and hybrid cloud solutions.
- Enterprise Integration:
Examine best practices for integrating AI seamlessly across various enterprise functions, from R&D to supply chain management.
- Navigating Multi-Cloud Environments:
Learn how to effectively manage AI operations across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring flexibility, security, and cost-effectiveness.
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Main Stage
Present Your executive roundTables Findings
Up next, each roundtable will share their key takeaways with the full audience. Please designate one representative from your table to go on stage and briefly present your group’s findings and discussion highlights.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Session Location
Afternoon Networking Break
3:30 PM - 4:10 PM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Featured Panel
Understanding the True Cost of AI:
Tokens, Compute, and Capacity
As enterprise AI adoption accelerates, many organizations are discovering that the real challenge isn’t experimentation — it’s the economics of scaling. From token usage and inference costs to GPU availability and infrastructure strategy, leaders must understand the financial and operational realities behind AI at scale. This discussion explores how organizations are managing the growing demand for AI while balancing cost, performance, and capacity. Executives will gain practical insight into how companies are forecasting AI workloads, optimizing model usage, and building infrastructure strategies that support sustained AI adoption without runaway costs.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Understanding AI Economics:
Learn how token pricing, inference workloads, and model selection influence the true cost of deploying AI across the enterprise.
- Planning for Compute and Capacity:
Explore how organizations are forecasting AI demand, managing GPU constraints, and building infrastructure strategies to support production-scale AI.
- Optimizing AI for Sustainable Scale:
Understand how leaders are controlling costs through model strategy, workload management, and infrastructure decisions that balance performance and budget.
tanweer surve
Head of Cloud Center Enablement (CCoE)
Jeff Chu
Senior Director FSI
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM
Main Stage - Marriott Marquis
Featured Panel
Transforming Healthcare:
From AI Pilots to Clinical-Grade Systems
Healthcare organizations are under pressure to deploy AI at scale while operating in one of the most regulated, data-constrained environments in the enterprise. Leaders are moving past experimentation and asking harder questions: where AI truly improves outcomes, where risk increases, and how systems can be trusted inside clinical and operational workflows.
This panel brings together healthcare data and AI leaders to discuss how organizations are operationalizing AI across care delivery, supply chains, and enterprise operations. The focus is not on future promises, but on what is working today — how leaders are navigating data access, governance, and validation to move AI from pilots into production without compromising safety, compliance, or performance.
Key Learning Objectives for the Audience
- Deploying AI in Data-Constrained Clinical Environments:
How healthcare organizations are using synthetic data, model tuning, and controlled access strategies to innovate while protecting patient privacy and meeting regulatory requirements.
- Making AI Trustworthy for Clinical and Operational Use:
How leaders validate, monitor, and govern AI systems so outputs can be trusted by clinicians, operators, and executives — not just data science teams.
- Scaling AI Without Disrupting Care Delivery:
How enterprises are integrating AI into real workflows, reducing friction for clinicians and staff while ensuring reliability, accountability, and measurable impact.
Bethany Percha
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Deepak Agarwal
Director, ORx IT Operations
Polina Girshman
Director, Experience Strategy R&D
Moderator
Bruce Monaco
Co-Founder / Head of Research
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Main Stage
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Marriott Marquis Hotel Bar
After-Party
Cocktail Hour
Beverage Menu:
Premium Spirits:
Tito’s Vodka
Balcones Whiskey
Tequila 512
Gosling's Rum
Hendrick’s Gin
Craft Beers:
Karbach Ranch Water
Karbach Love Street
Elegant Wines and Champagne:
Sauvignon Blanc: Kim Crawford
Prosecco: Lunetta
Chardonnay: La Crema
Pinot Noir: Mark West
Cabernet: Columbia Crest - Grand Estates
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
The Capital Grille - Rockefeller Center
Intimate Think Tank Dinner - Invite Only
Directly After Day 2 Summit
Race for Enterprise AI: Agents, Infrastructure & Executive Decisions
The Think Tank Dinner is a private, invitation-only gathering of senior executives, speakers, and partners.
Attendance is limited and separate from the Day 2 Main Summit. Participation requires explicit confirmation in advance. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
This dinner is designed for in-depth discussion and peer exchange in a small-group setting. Guests not confirmed for the dinner should plan to depart following the cocktail reception.
Leaders in AI chicago 2026
Think Tank Dinners
Leaders In AI Chicago 2026: Night 1 Dinner
From Investment to Impact:
Rethinking AI Infrastructure for Cost, Performance, and Enterprise Scale
Leaders In AI Chicago 2026: Night 2 Dinner
Race for Enterprise AI:
Agents, Infrastructure & Executive Decisions
Summit Location
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
909 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
info@iaitransform.com
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