From Coco robots cruising the show floor as casually as show attendees, to an all-star lineup of speakers like former VP, Kamala Harris, and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of OpenAI, Kevin Weil, the inaugural HumanX conference gave off everything but a rookie year vibe.
Held from March 9-13 in Las Vegas, HumanX emerged as a pivotal event in the AI industry, bringing together over 3,500 senior decision-makers and industry leaders, including more than 300 C-suite speakers, to explore the latest advancements and applications in AI.
Keynotes, panels and conversations with conference attendees all pointed to one thing: AI is reshaping business and society at speed. Here are a few of the hottest topics we heard on-site.
1. Agentic AI unsurprisingly takes center stage
The consensus at HumanX? 2025 is the year of the Agentic AI. Agents are poised to revolutionize operations with the potential to create new revenue streams by moving beyond intelligence to action and decision-making. But enterprise adoption – deploying, managing and realizing ROI – is still a challenge.
For AI agents to drive real impact, they need to empower – not replace – human employees, and change management must be carefully considered. Furthermore, during panels at HumanX, experts from companies like MongoDB and Aisera stressed a need for agents that can recall past interactions, retrieve relevant context and perform reliably in dynamic, real-world conditions. Organizations that can master trust, contextual awareness and operational reliability will be the early “winners” of the Agentic era.
2. AI accessibility is top of mind – and the ecosystem around AI is making progress
Speaking onstage in a highly anticipated session, OpenAI’s Kevin Weil noted that AI costs are dropping tenfold each year. That’s making advanced AI much more accessible to businesses, and enabling new applications that were previously too expensive to pursue.
That need to continue improving AI accessibility was top-of-mind for many throughout the week. For example, there’s a consensus that, for AI to reach its full potential, companies need to be able to extend AI use – and management of AI agents – across business functions. That means removing AI from siloes within the IT department to be available to HR, finance and marketing teams. Companies like Boomi are prioritizing easy-to-navigate dashboards and systems that are accessible to teams outside of IT, which will unlock new value and spread AI’s impact across functions.
3. Autonomous vehicles + robotics lead the way
Breakthroughs in multi-modal sensing and AI software are accelerating the growth of autonomous vehicles and robotics, driving real-world deployments at an increasing pace. As hardware and software integration improves, we’re seeing autonomous solutions roll out across diverse environments – from city streets to industrial warehouses.
Coco Robotics’ delivery robots (already deployed in our hometown of Chicago!) exemplify this shift, seamlessly navigating urban landscapes to fulfill last-mile deliveries. Companies like Zoox are also pushing the boundaries of autonomy by developing self-driving vehicles that provide mobility-as-a-service, further embedding AI-driven transportation into everyday life.
Beyond urban settings, robotics are gaining ground in retail and industrial applications, tackling tasks like inventory management and supply chain optimization. Thomas Wolf from Hugging Face predicted that household and entertainment robotics will also see growth – particularly if companies prioritize transparency and open-source solutions, both of which are key to enabling robots to take on more complex tasks. But, the jury is still out on what the “killer app” or “iPhone moment” will be for robotics: i.e., the catalyst for widespread adoption. Something to watch in 2025.
4. Purpose-built applications of AI – like healthcare – are first to prove value
AI’s expanding role in healthcare was a significant focus, with experts highlighting its applications in medical diagnostics, drug discovery and personalized medicine. AI-driven systems are accelerating medical research and improving patient outcomes, signaling a transformative impact on the healthcare industry.
In a session on drug discovery, Mike Nally, CEO at Generate Biomedicines shared that AI technology is allowing program timelines to be cut in half and reducing costs to a fraction of what they would be with traditional technologies. And while finding time and cost efficiencies are promising outcomes, the bigger focus is on quality. The answers that AI-driven technology is providing would be nearly impossible using traditional techniques. With this high potential impact in mind, the biggest challenge will be deciding where to direct this technology in order to have the greatest impact on humanity.
5. AI’s role in marketing + personalization
AI is revolutionizing how marketers understand and engage with their audiences. As marketers ourselves, this is something that the team at Walker Sands is seeing and talking about with our clients, day in and day out. So, it was great to hear from others on how they’re approaching AI for personalization during the event.
In a panel discussion, Michael Misiewicz from Yext shared that for marketers looking to be at the forefront of the industry, focusing on brand and content optimizations that appeal to generative search engines is a top priority. That’s exactly why Walker Sands is prioritizing Generative Engine Optimization as part of a recipe for success to build awareness and drive demand for brands in the AI era.
Looking Ahead to HumanX 2026
HumanX 2025 was not your average conference. It was a forum for discussion and knowledge-sharing. That kind of discourse – across industry, politicians, technologists, ethicists and business leaders – is critical to ensuring a successful future for AI.
As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the conversations started at HumanX will only become more relevant. If this year was any indication, HumanX is set to be a must-attend AI event for years to come.
Registration is already open for HumanX 2026, which will take place in the epicenter of AI: San Francisco. We’ll be there, and hope you’ll join us!
Check out our previous blog discussing AI trends with the HumanX CEO, Stefan Weitz!
