May 6, 2026 · Scheman Building, Ames, IA

Beyond the Chatbot: Navigating the Next AI Frontiers

Marketing and Sales

TRACK Marketing and Sales
FORMAT Expert Talk
ROOM 260-262

The first wave of generative AI was about surfacing insights by asking a chatbot to summarize a document or draft an email. Now, businesses are shifting toward systems that don’t just talk, but act. This session moves past the chatbot to explore how to leverage the next generation of AI capabilities:

  1. Agentic AI: 2025 was widely heralded as the year of agentic AI, but McKinsey reports that only one in four organizations are scaling an agentic AI system in their enterprises. Agentic AI systems automate tasks by making decisions and taking actions that require several steps. We will demonstrate how organizations are securely connecting AI agents to the core systems that run their business—like CRMs and ERPs—while maintaining governance and security using techniques such as Model Context Protocol (MCP).
  2. Multimodal AI: Multimodal capabilities—or the ability to leverage multiple kinds of data such as imagery, video, and audio—are expected to surge in 2026. These improvements enable organizations to tap into all the different facets of the business to enhance and improve data analytics and insights, such as “unstructured data” found in recorded audio calls, photos from in-the-field work, and video from logistics hubs. To fully access business intelligence from all data, businesses need a strong strategy on consolidating and governing unstructured data.
  3. Spatial Intelligence: As multimodal matures, spatial intelligence is predicted to build strong momentum. The capability for AI systems to understand, interpret, and interact with a physical or virtual world, spatial intelligence promises to optimize throughput, guided maintenance, and industrial training. This exploratory section of the session will inspire organizations to consider how immersive learning, experiences, and simulations that mirror work conditions for use cases may impact ROI in their business.

Attendees will leave with the ability to confidently evaluate which AI capabilities offer the right ROI for their business needs. By understanding the true capabilities behind AI solutions, organizations can move from AI experimentation to actionable innovation rooted in use case and business needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand when to move AI from a chat interface to an active participant that executes tasks within your business systems.
  • Why unlocking all facets of your business data—including audio, video, and imagery—helps you make better business decisions.
  • Consider whether to augment physical operations with immersive simulations.
Continue the conversation with Rachel Holmes at the Marketing & Sales Facilitated Discussion — 1:20 PM - 2:05 PM, Room 220-230-240

Transcript from Summit:

Session Transcript