Recognizing the People & Organizations Building the Future

Nominate the innovators, builders, and leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence. This is your chance to spotlight the people making a real impact—in Columbus and beyond.

Awards and recognitions will be announced live at the Columbus AI Week 2025 VIP Happy Hour on Wednesday September 10th at Otie’s Tavern. They will also be published on the website following the event. We can’t wait to see you there!

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DATE: September 10th, 2025 | TIME: 5-7 PM (During Columbus AI Week VIP Happy Hour) | LOCATION: Otie’s Tavern & Grill

Individual Awards & Finalist Voting

  • AI Catalyst

    A leader accelerating meaningful change through AI.

    This award honors someone who’s not just talking about AI innovation—they’re making it happen. Whether they’ve launched a game-changing product, transformed how a business works, or pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, the AI Catalyst sparks momentum across industries.

    CAST MY VOTE →

  • Guardian of Good

    A leader championing ethical, responsible AI.


    This award celebrates someone making sure AI serves everyone. They’re building with integrity, advocating for transparency, protecting data and human rights, or working to ensure AI is used in ways that are safe, fair, and aligned with societal values.

    CAST MY VOTE →

  • AI Rising Star

    A newcomer making major waves in the AI space.


    This award recognizes an emerging voice—someone early in their career or just stepping onto the AI scene—who’s already showing impressive promise, fresh thinking, or breakout leadership in AI research, development, or application.

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  • Future Builder

    A visionary shaping tomorrow’s world with AI.


    This award goes to someone with bold ideas and the drive to make them real. Whether they're building startups, launching research, or leading ambitious projects, they’re actively constructing the future we’ll all live in—with AI at the core.

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  • Inclusive AI

    An individual or team advancing equity through AI.


    This award honors work that ensures AI doesn’t leave anyone behind. It’s for those creating inclusive technologies, widening access to opportunity, or using AI to elevate marginalized voices and communities.

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Organization Awards & Finalist Voting

  • Responsible AI Leadership

    A company setting the standard for ethical AI.

    This award honors companies leading the way in governance, transparency, and trust. By building policies and practices that prioritize fairness, accountability, and ethical deployment, these organizations show that innovation and responsibility can advance together.

    CAST MY VOTE →

  • AI Transformation of the Year

    An organization proving AI delivers results.

    This award recognizes a company that has embedded AI into its core operations to drive measurable outcomes. Whether it’s revenue growth, efficiency gains, or market expansion, this honor spotlights organizations that made AI a true business accelerator.

    CAST MY VOTE →

  • AI Product Launch of the Year

    A Company bringing bold AI ideas to market.

    This award celebrates companies that launched a new AI-powered product or feature with real-world impact. It shines a light on teams who turned innovation into something tangible, delivering value for customers and reshaping their industry.

    CAST MY VOTE →

  • AI Partnership Award

    When collaboration sparks innovation.

    This award recognizes cross-organization collaborations—whether between enterprises and startups, corporations and universities, or cross-industry alliances. It celebrates partnerships that multiply impact and bring transformative AI solutions to life.

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  • Customer Impact Award

    AI that makes a difference for customers.

    This award spotlights companies whose AI solutions delivered significant improvements for clients or end users. It honors organizations that turned cutting-edge technology into practical outcomes that improved lives, experiences, or customer success.

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  • Best AI Culture Award

    Where people + AI thrive together.

    This award celebrates companies building the right environment for AI adoption. From training programs to experimentation labs, these organizations empower employees to use AI confidently and creatively—making culture the catalyst for innovation.

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Nominate SOmeone You Know!

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