With the theme “AI Gets Real,” speakers from AWS, Walmart, Nationwide, Safelite, White Castle and other organizations will share how AI is being implemented in real business operations.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The third annual AI Rising conference returns to The Ohio Union in Columbus on October 19–20 with a timely theme: “AI Gets Real.” Bringing together business leaders, technology professionals and AI practitioners, the two-day event focuses on how organizations are moving beyond experimentation to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday business operations.
The event features hands-on workshops October 19, followed by a full conference October 20 with sessions, opening and closing keynotes, and networking opportunities.
“There's still plenty of debate about whether AI will deliver on its promise, but the business and technology leaders we work with have already moved on to implementation,” said Dan Greenleaf, Founder & CEO, AI Rising. “They're integrating AI into core operations, making significant investments and learning what works in the real world. That's the conversation we're bringing to Columbus with this year's theme, ‘AI Gets Real.’”
Real-world AI applications take center stage
The conference features speakers from AWS, Walmart, Nationwide, Safelite, White Castle, Westfield Insurance, Humana, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and other organizations working with AI.
Sessions cover AI agents, business automation, enterprise implementation, healthcare applications, workforce impacts, human oversight and the challenges of scaling AI responsibly.
Featured presentations include:
- Ryan Frederick, Transform Labs, opening keynote on the next five years of operational AI.
- Kritika Sharma, Walmart, on building and scaling AI solutions in large organizations.
- Archanna Manoharan, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, on AI applications supporting unemployed Ohioans.
- Melanie Kolp, Nationwide; Susan Carroll-Boser, White Castle; and Nada Aried, Safelite, in a closing leadership discussion about successful AI implementation.
The October 19 workshop program offers hands-on instruction in AI agents, context engineering, infrastructure automation and human-centered workflows.
Event information
AI Rising 2026
October 19–20, 2026
The Ohio Union | Columbus, Ohio
Full agenda and registration: https://www.airising.org/ai-rising-conference-2026
About AI Rising
Now in its third year, AI Rising is a Columbus-based conference connecting business leaders and technology professionals with the people building and implementing AI solutions. The event emphasizes practical applications, real-world experiences and responsible AI adoption.
