Inside Cincy AI Week 2025: Voices Shaping the Future of AI
By Zack Huhn, Co-founder of Cincy AI Week
The second week in June is AI Week in Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati became the beating heart of the AI conversation in America. Cincy AI Week wasn’t just another tech conference — it was a gathering of builders, thinkers, and dreamers focused on creating AI that serves people, businesses, and communities. Here’s what stood out most this year, in the words of those who were there.
Responsible AI: From Talk to Action
One of the strongest themes throughout the week was the urgency to turn principles into practice.
Carl Fraik, Executive Director of Cincinnati AI Catalyst, put it clearly:
“Organizations must implement their first AI policy NOW... proceed carefully, with a holistic plan (including safety, security and responsibility) as you consider implementing AI agents.”
Justin Rice of CBTS highlighted how business leaders are beginning to operationalize these ideas:
“CBTS is driving innovation through AI-powered managed services, adoption programs, and hands-on workshops — all built to help customers accelerate their AI journey.”
The takeaway? Responsible AI isn’t optional. It’s the foundation for adoption at scale.
Agentic AI: The Next Frontier Is Here
The conversation at Cincy AI Week made it clear: AI agents are no longer theoretical. They’re reshaping workflows today.
Maddie Bell of SchedulerAI (now Synapsa) captured this during her keynote on orchestrating revenue through AI agents across the modern buyer journey.
Zach Fischer joined panelists to discuss how agentic systems will drive the next leaps in AI, encouraging organizations to redesign their operations around intelligent autonomy.
The energy was electric — everyone agreed that moving beyond prompt engineering to agent-driven systems is now a competitive necessity.
Equity and Access: AI for All
Cincinnati showed that AI must be built by and for everyone.
Steve Dong, CEO of CybrCastle, summed it up:
“AI is a decentralized type of infrastructure. And anybody can adopt AI... that’s really exciting.”
Kendra Ramirez, a member of the host committee, reflected on what makes this region’s approach unique:
“The level of collaboration we saw in Cincinnati is bar none.”
Cincy AI Week wasn’t just about technology — it was about building systems that lift up whole communities.
Human Stories and Creative Sparks
At the core of Cincy AI Week were the human stories that remind us why we build AI in the first place.
Hannah Held from AI Simplified shared a moving moment:
“When Sarah Fuller shared her story… you could feel the entire room unite in compassion and awe of her bravery.”
Teri Campbell, an AI artist, spoke to the role of technology in amplifying creativity:
“It’s not about AI replacing the artisan — it’s about AI amplifying the spark.”
Again and again, speakers and attendees emphasized that AI’s true power lies in how it enhances human connection, empathy, and imagination.
Lifelong Learning: Keeping Pace with Change
The pace of AI advancement means one thing: we all have to keep learning.
Sid Thatham from the University of Cincinnati captured this perfectly:
“Learning at the speed of change... that’s the need of the hour and that’s what’s necessary.”
Cincy AI Week offered everything from beginner-friendly sessions on large language models to workshops helping organizations build AI-ready teams.
Community Is Our Superpower
Cincy AI Week thrived because of the people who made it possible — from the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to the speakers and attendees who showed up with purpose.
Madhavi Najana, recipient of this year’s AI Rising Star Award, said it best:
“This recognition is more than a personal milestone — it's a celebration of the powerful ecosystem we’re building together. One that thrives on collaboration, inclusivity, and responsible innovation.”
And in the words of our organizing team:
“It takes a village — and we had the very best.”
Voices & Powerful Perspectives
Here’s a closer look:
“Your brand is only as strong as the answers AI gives about it.”
— Pete Blackshaw, Founder & CEO at BrandRank.AI, during his keynote on the Answer Economy twitter.com+10blog.brandrank.ai+10linkedin.com+10
Pete underscored a shift from traditional SEO to “Answer Engine Optimization.” With major platforms prioritizing AI-generated responses, organizations must now ensure their brand’s visibility and narrative stays intact—and aligned with customer intent. It was a wake-up call: your brand strategy must include AI-first thinking.
“Stop aiming for ‘AI-first.’ Think ‘AI-only.’”
— Mike Buob, Head of Innovation (as shared by Sama) linkedin.com+3linkedin.com+3linkedin.com+3
Mike warned against treating AI as an afterthought or edge case. In a world where LLMs drive customer expectations and internal workflows, AI-integrated solutions aren’t optional—they’re the baseline.
“Let humans steer the ship, and let AI handle everything in between.”
— Maddie Bell, SchedulerAI (echoed by Sama) creativitysquared.com+3linkedin.com+3cincyaiweek.com+3
Maddie highlighted a core principle of her keynote: AI agents should streamline the mundane, allowing humans to focus on strategy, relationship-building, and creative problem solving.
“We’re wasting time documenting instead of doing. AI can help.”
— Katie Trauth Taylor, PhD, Narratize, via Sama’s recap cincyaiweek.com+4linkedin.com+4linkedin.com+4
AI isn’t just a tool for clever algorithms—it’s a productivity secret weapon. Katie called out the time teams lose on documentation and planning—and noted how AI is already changing the game.
“Stay focused and strategic — even in an AI-driven world.”
— Todd James, shared via Sama’s roundup linkedin.com+1linkedin.com+1
Amid a sea of shiny AI possibilities, Todd’s reminder is crucial: success isn’t about using AI for AI’s sake. It’s about embedding the right AI, in the right place, at the right time.
Why These Voices Mattered
Each insight offers a fresh lens on AI maturity:
BrandTrust & Visibility: As Pete reminded us, AI-based “Answer Engines” are influencing brand perception more than ever.
AI Embedded, Not Optional: Mike and Todd drove home that AI shouldn't be a feature—it's central.
Human-Centric Agents: Maddie emphasized people-first automation design.
Productivity through AI: Katie’s take on reducing operational drag is exactly the kind of practical guidance attendees appreciated.
Cincy AI Week is more than a showcase of generative tools—it’s a strategic moment: businesses, nonprofits, and governments all realizing AI isn’t hypotheticals—it’s happening now, and strategically.
What Comes Next
Cincy AI Week 2025 wasn’t an endpoint. It was a beginning. Our city is charting its AI blueprint — a shared vision for how policy, talent, and technology will come together to create meaningful impact.
If you joined us this year, what inspired you most? And if you’re just discovering this community, now’s the time to plug in. Together, we’re shaping the future of AI — and doing it the right way.
Now is the time — register to attend and discover ways to get involved in Cincy AI Week 2026!
