May 6, 2026 · Scheman Building, Ames, IA

Facilitated Discussion: Business Systems & Data

This session is an open, attendee-driven discussion focused on themes from the Business Systems & Data track. Facilitated by the Summit Director, it will be shaped by participant questions, experiences, and real-world challenges. Speakers will contribute, but the emphasis is on shared insights and practical applications grounded in real-world conditions.

Beyond the Chatbot: Navigating the Next AI Frontiers

Move beyond chatting with AI to actually getting work done. This session explores the latest AI frontiers: building agents, getting more out of your business data, and exploring immersive capabilities. Attendees will leave with the ability to confidently evaluate which AI capabilities are right for their business needs.

Tabular Foundation Models Meet Manufacturing: A Practical Exploration

Tabular foundation models — pretrained models that make predictions on structured data without task-specific training — have rapidly matured, yet their application in manufacturing remains largely unexplored. This talk introduces TFMs to the manufacturing AI community, demonstrates their potential through select case studies in machining and materials prediction, and discusses where they deliver value, where they fall short, and what opportunities lie ahead for industrial adoption.

Shadow AI: When Everyone Becomes a Data Leak Waiting to Happen

Shadow AI does not need a developer. An employee with a browser and a deadline is enough. Aaron Warner explains why AI adoption is already happening inside your organization without approval, where the real data leakage and compliance risks hide, and how leaders should respond strategically.

Lunch and Insight Exchange

During the networking lunch, tables will be designated by specific artificial intelligence topics. Participants are encouraged to choose a table based on their interests and engage in focused discussion with others at that table. A portion of the tables will be reserved for open conversation, allowing for more general networking without a set topic. Refer […]

AI Security Is Not a Brand: Governance, Risk, and the Reality Behind “Safe AI”

Security is not a feature you buy; it’s a system you design. This session explains why no AI platform is automatically “safe” or “unsafe,” and how governance, identity management, vendor agreements, and data controls determine real risk. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating AI tools beyond brand loyalty or fear.