Columbus AI WEEK 2025

September 10-11th, 2025 at WatersEdge in Hilliard, OH

Black and white skyline of Cleveland, Ohio with various high-rise buildings and a bridge in the foreground.
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Real People.

Real Products.

Real Strategies.

Artificial Intelligence.

Real People. Real Products. Real Strategies. Artificial Intelligence.

Featured Speakers

  • A man in a red blazer and white shirt smiling at the camera with a neutral background.

    Mike Chorey

    Head of Innovation & AI Product

    The Wendy’s Company

  • A man with dark hair wearing a white button-up shirt, smiling, against a light gray background.

    Arjun Kaarat

    Senior Manager, Data Science

    Walmart (Sam's Club)

  • Payal Thakur

    Senior Director of Enterprise Analytics & CDO

    JobsOhio

  • Headshot of a young man wearing glasses, a suit, and a white shirt in an office setting

    Srinivas Chippagiri

    Senior Member of Technical Staff

    Salesforce Inc.

  • A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a navy blazer over a white shirt, standing against a gray background.

    Will Croushorn

    AI Product Manager

    The Wendy’s Company

  • A woman with curly, shoulder-length brown hair, smiling and wearing a black blazer, with crossed arms, and a necklace, against a plain light-colored background.

    Amanda Stricker

    Senior Applications Engineer

    American Honda Motor

  • A smiling man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a dark blazer and a white shirt, sitting indoors with a background of green plants and light-colored walls.

    Nate Sowder

    VP & Executive in Residence

    Fifth Third Bank & Cintrifuse

  • Headshot of a bald man wearing glasses, a black suit jacket, and a blue shirt, smiling at the camera.

    TODD JAMES

    Founder & CEO

    Aurora Insights

  • A man with dark hair and facial hair wearing a dark Columbia jacket, sitting outdoors with a blurred modern building in the background.

    Pratik Badri

    Vice President, Quant Analytics Manager

    JPMorgan Chase & Co

  • A woman with long, light brown hair smiling, wearing a cream-colored top and a small cross necklace, against a dark blue background.

    Maddie Bell

    Co-Founder & CEO

    Synapsa AI

  • A man wearing glasses and a light-colored suit with a tie, smiling in an indoor setting with a window and wooden decor.

    Brett Ewing

    Co-Founder & CEO

    AXE.AI

  • A man with a beard and mustache, wearing a dark blazer and black turtleneck, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, blurred lights in the background.

    DERRICK HODGE

    President & CEO

    Hodge Luke

ALL SPEAKERS

2025 Schedule Overview

  • Tuesday, September 9

    COMMUNITY DAY

    Kick off Columbus AI Week with our Community Happy Hour!

    Location: Crooked Can Brewery - Hilliard, OH

    Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    This event is open-to-all and does not require a Columbus AI Week ticket to attend.

  • Wednesday, September 10

    AI LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

    Theme: AI for Teams and Organizations

    Curated for enterprise leaders and department heads

    Programming focuses on real-world AI implementation, tech stack decisions, workforce adoption, and ROI

    Includes: workshops, expert panels, sponsor activations, and VIP networking

  • Thursday, September 11

    AI FOR BUSINESS SUMMIT

    Theme: AI + Innovation

    Deep-dive enterprise content with an added focus on innovation

    Features the Startup & Innovation Showcase highlighting 15–20 regional AI companies

    Includes: on-stage startup demos, investor access, and executive networking sessions

Learn More
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Save $50 — Lock in Earlybird Pricing by August 1st!

The “Un-Conference” Experience

  • Black silhouette of a dog with a curly tail and wearing a bow tie.

    Meaningful Connections, Made Easy

    Step into a room of bold thinkers, emerging founders, and industry leaders ready to connect, collaborate, and create lasting impact.

  • A black and white illustration of an open book with a feather quill pen resting on its pages.

    Turn Your Ideas Into Action

    Go beyond the theory. Get hands-on with practical sessions led by experts who are building and deploying AI that matters.

  • Black and white line drawing of a person riding a bicycle.

    Community-Driven Innovation

    Join a diverse, forward-thinking community of builders and leaders pushing AI forward together—through connection, collaboration, and shared purpose.

  • A silhouette of a person with curly hair holding a smartphone in front of a cityscape at night.

    Insights from the Frontlines

    Hear directly from the executives and trailblazers leading AI adoption across industries—and learn what it takes to lead the next wave.

Explore More

Don’t Just Take Our Word For it…

  • A young woman with long, wavy brown hair and fair skin with freckles, standing outdoors in a park with trees and fallen leaves, wearing a beige coat and a dark top.

    -Shanon S. (Director of Business Development & Technical Operations)

    “If you’re looking for a conference that blends sharp insight with genuine connection, this is it. From the content to the community, it’s been thoughtful, future-focused, and full of substance."

  • Smiling man wearing a white shirt, dark vest, and patterned tie, standing against a plain white wall.

    - Sameer M. (Software Engineer II)

    “From welcoming curious minds to connecting with inspiring speakers and innovators — this event is all about energy, collaboration, and a shared passion for AI. The vibe was electric, and it’s just the beginning!"

  • A man wearing black glasses, a white shirt, and a dark blazer, standing indoors near windows with natural light.

    - Mark E. (President & CEO)

    “I hear a lot of fear and concern about AI but the best way to tackle that is education. If you haven't started your education about AI you should start here!"

Our Sponsors

Columbus AI Week couldn’t happen without our amazing sponsors. Interested in sponsoring? Reach out to our team to learn about available opportunities!

Nexigen logo with a hexagonal icon in blue and green, and the word 'nexigen' in blue text.
Logo of Big Kitty Labs featuring a purple cartoon cat face with large round eyes, pointy ears, whiskers, and the company name in purple text.
JobOhio logo with black text and a red semi-circle design.
Fifth Third Bank logo with a stylized '5/3' inside a green-bordered blue square and the words 'FIFTH THIRD' underneath.
AXE logo in black text on a white background.
Synapsa logo with an orange geometric shape next to the word 'Synapsa' in navy blue text.
The logo of Claro, a telecommunications company, with the brand name in red lowercase letters and an accent mark over the letter 'o'.
Frost Brown Todd Attorneys logo with a stylized blue square and the firm name in gray and blue text.
The logo for CORE IQ, featuring the text 'CORE IQ' with a red 'O' and the tagline 'Skills for Life' below in gray.
CyberSure Network & Security logo with a red brain icon and black text

Columbus AI Week 2024 by the Numbers

800

REGISTERED ATTENDEES

460

COMPANIES REPRESENTED

140

SPEAKERS PRESENT

75

VOLUNTEERS

69

SESSIONS & EVENTS

9.6

AVERAGE SESSION RATING

At Columbus AI Week we will shine a light on the builders and innovators influencing the development of AI technology and policy in Columbus, OH and beyond.

Become a Volunteer!

Be part of the team powering Columbus AI Week and get a front-row seat to the region’s leading AI event.

  • Enjoy complimentary event access and exclusive behind-the-scenes experience

  • Network directly with AI leaders, speakers, and sponsors

  • Build valuable skills in event operations, tech support, and community engagement

  • Make new connections, gain hands-on experience, and help shape the future of AI in Central Ohio

Ready to make an impact? Join our volunteer crew and help bring Columbus AI Week to life!

Three women engaged in conversation, one wearing a red shirt with 'VOLUNTEER' printed on the back, in an indoor setting with warm lighting and a decorative illuminated background.

What are you waiting for? Come join us!