May 6, 2026 · Scheman Building, Ames, IA

When the Smartest in the Room is No Longer Human

General

TRACK General
FORMAT Keynote
ROOM 220-230-240

Artificial intelligence is accelerating at a pace that is outstripping organizational roadmaps. As capabilities grow and costs plummet, raw intelligence is no longer a scarce resource—it is becoming a commodity.

In this keynote, Jacey draws on production-grade examples from Pella Corporation, and beyond, to reveal what happens when AI is no longer a tool, but a teammate. From computer vision operating at scale to agentic systems that plan, decide, and act, we are entering an era where the most capable “thinker” and “doer” in the room is often silicon-based.

The challenge for leadership is no longer about acquiring the smartest tools—it’s about designing an enterprise capable of harnessing them. The winners of this era will not be those with the best algorithms, but those who build AI-ready platforms, govern autonomy without stifling speed, and intentionally redesign the very nature of work, teams, and human decision-making.

Continue the conversation with Jacey Heuer at the Leadership & Workforce Facilitated Discussion — 3:10 PM - 3:55 PM, Room 220-230-240

Transcript from Summit:

Session Transcript