Back in October, I had the privilege of speaking at The AI Summit New York on the AI Accelerator Stage. My panel, Supercharging Growth for Strategic Corporate Partnerships, focused on the importance of forging partnerships in today’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem. With so many AI vendors, platforms, and tools competing for attention, the key to long-term success isn’t just building a great product. It is knowing how to collaborate effectively.
During the discussion, I highlighted a fundamental truth we learned at Hello Alice, most small businesses are not actually in direct competition with each other. Instead, they thrive by finding complementary opportunities. The AI space is no different. AI vendors, rather than competing in a zero sum game, have a massive opportunity to work together and create more powerful, scalable solutions.
One example I shared was our partnership with AWS. Amazon has some fantastic programs designed to help SMBs launch AI products and concepts, and we leveraged them to great success to get us off the ground. We continue to work with AWS tools and our implementation partners to continue to grow and thrive in this space. Knowing how to tap into corporate resources like these can be a game changer for any startup navigating the AI landscape.
What Blew My Mind
Beyond my panel, the conference itself was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend it for professionals or entrepreneurs looking to catch up (OR Get ahead) in the AI space. Here are some key takeaways:
- Avatar Technology is Insane. I was completely blown away by the progress in avatar based AI. The potential applications for accessibility are game changing, and on a more practical level, the ability to generate video content seamlessly is going to be a major force in how businesses communicate in an increasingly video driven world.
- Most Attendees Are Just Getting Started. AI is advancing at breakneck speed, but outside of the rare data scientists and ML veterans, the majority of professionals at the conference were still figuring things out. This isn’t a bad thing. It just means that continuous learning is essential, and no one has it all figured out yet.
- Stay Sharp or Get Left Behind. The pace of AI innovation is relentless. If you are not actively staying up to date, you are falling behind. The tools, best practices, and industry landscape are evolving too fast to rely on what you knew six months ago.
Final Thoughts
Speaking at The AI Summit was an incredible experience. The energy, the insights, and the sheer amount of innovation happening in AI right now are unmatched. Whether you are a startup looking to scale, a corporate leader exploring AI adoption, or just someone trying to keep up with the latest advancements, one thing is clear, this is just the beginning.
If you were at the event or have thoughts on AI partnerships, let’s keep the conversation going. AI is changing the game, and the best way to win is to play it together.