This post kicks off Walker Sands’ four-part blog series on AI, where we’ll explore how this transformative technology is reshaping the B2B marketing landscape, explore emerging trends and highlight new opportunities. Stay tuned for the next installment!
In a dynamic and competitive field like AI, keeping your strategies relevant and impactful requires more than just staying informed – it demands active engagement with the broader AI community.
Attending AI conferences is one of the most effective ways to keep up with the latest trends and emerging technologies. The Walker Sands team has been on the ground at a number of industry conferences this year and across verticals – from HR tech to fintech – AI has stolen the spotlight.
But if you’re like us, you might be craving more AI-focused gatherings and events that provide connections with AI experts, media and influencers, offer thought leadership opportunities and shed light on what’s next in this rapidly evolving industry.
So, we’ve rounded up 10 must-attend events for organizations investing in AI in 2025. These events feature the best of cutting-edge tech, strategic discussions and opportunities to engage with industry leaders across backgrounds and industries about the one thing we all have in common: AI.
1. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) | Las Vegas
CES connects innovators, decision-makers, media, influencers and visionaries across the entire tech ecosystem. This well-known event is a place for breakthrough technologies and global innovators to take center stage, and it’s where the biggest brands come to do business. CES will be held January 7-10, 2025 and promises insights into AI applications across sectors like consumer electronics, automotive, health and more.
2. HumanX | Las Vegas
In its inaugural year, HumanX is poised to become one of the most significant AI gatherings of 2025. Designed for AI and business leaders, HumanX will focus on actionable insights and real-world applications. With nine industry tracks and 300+ speakers, including executives from companies like Salesforce, Canva, Abnormal Security, Credo AI, Zoom, and many others, this event is a powerhouse of AI knowledge. Attendees for the March 10-13, 2025 show include executives and innovators from vertical industries such as financial services, healthcare, enterprise software and entertainment, all looking to shape the future of AI applications in business.
HumanX 2025 will be the first event from this list that our Walker Sands team attends in the new year. Join us! Register now with our code (HX25p_walkersands) to save $250 on general admission.
3. SXSW | Austin
Featuring a variety of tracks that focus on the most important breakthroughs in technology, film, culture and music, SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. From March 7-15, 2025, SXSW will showcase some of the world’s most inspired thinkers as they tackle the most pressing topics of today and tomorrow – last year’s show featured experts in AI ethics, computing, algorithms and more.
4. Nvidia GTC | San Jose
From March 17-20, 2025, thousands of developers, innovators and business leaders will attend GTC and experience how AI and accelerated computing are helping humanity solve our most complex challenges. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will issue the keynote, followed by over 500 inspiring sessions, 300+ exhibits, technical hands-on training and tons of unique networking events. GTC is the place to explore real-world examples of AI and its benefits and connect with thousands of industry peers and industry experts to explore the latest technologies that are transforming every industry, from accelerated computing to generative AI and beyond.
5. Ai4 | Las Vegas
Ai4 gathers industry experts, government organizations, disruptive startups, investors and research labs to explore the future of AI. The conference will be held from August 11-13, 2025 and is packed with discussions on AI trends, the latest advancements and best practices, making it an ideal choice for those wanting to stay ahead in the AI field. Past speakers include thought leaders from world politics, academia, sports and other sectors.
6. Microsoft Ignite | Chicago
Microsoft Ignite is where innovation and AI transformation meet. Attendees discover cutting-edge solutions for app modernization, data security and productivity enhancement. Typically held in November, Ignite also offers opportunities to build partnerships and strengthen communities, helping businesses capitalize on the latest developments in AI.
7. Cerebral Valley AI Summit | San Francisco
Presented by HP and Oracle, the Cerebral Valley AI Summit is a one-day event featuring discussions with some of AI’s brightest minds, including speakers from Databricks, Anthropic and CoreWeave, among others. This summit, typically held in November, is an ideal space for the people driving the next generation of AI to meet, connect and exchange ideas about AI’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.
8. AWS re:Invent | Las Vegas
AWS re:Invent is Amazon Web Services’ flagship learning event designed to help attendees deepen their expertise across AWS technologies and generative AI. The conference runs in December and features high-profile keynotes from AWS and Amazon, along with product demos, smaller innovation talks and interactive sessions led by AWS experts. It’s also packed with fun activities like live music and gaming sessions that add a unique twist to the learning experience.
9. Fortune Brainstorm AI | San Francisco
In December each year, Fortune Brainstorm AI convenes thought leaders from startups, Fortune 500 companies, investors, policymakers and academia to discuss the future of AI and how business leaders can responsibly adopt it at scale. The event provides an open platform to explore the societal and economic impact of AI innovations, as well as ethical considerations surrounding their use. It’s a space for ideation and collaboration at this pivotal moment for the technology sector. Prominent event participants have included executives from Google, Amazon and more.
10. The AI Summit | New York
Typically held in December, the AI Summit New York transforms theoretical discussions around AI into practical and profitable applications. Over 250 global speakers from companies such as Coca-Cola, Google, Mastercard, META Foundation, AstraZeneca, Visa, eBay and more.
Whether you’re seeking networking opportunities, knowledge sharing or hands-on training, these gatherings are packed with value for B2B professionals eager to make the most of AI.
Walker Sands will be on the ground at several of these events, starting with HumanX. If you’re attending, we’d love to connect! Reach out to our team ahead of time to discuss the latest in AI and how we can help you navigate your 2025 marketing goals.
