Behind the Curtain: The (Wild) Making of HumanX

The world didn’t need another AI conference. In fact, it needed that like it needed another blockchain bro promising to “revolutionize the web.” That was the mantra on repeat when we started sketching out HumanX in early 2024.

So I did what any halfway rational person would do: I called 150 of the smartest execs I know from all my years in tech—big names, heavy hitters, folks with LinkedIn bios longer than your average resume. What I discovered? Many of them didn’t just lack AI strategy… they lacked AI literacy. As in: “Wait, it’s not just ChatGPT?” kind of literacy. And the ones who had implemented AI? Let’s just say the results were less “strategic genius” and more “shiny toy syndrome.”  (And no, hedge funds, please don’t call me and ask who they were - it was early 2024 after all!)

But honestly, who could blame them? The AI space in 2024 was like the tech world’s version of a reality show—chaotic, overhyped, and often full of conflicting plotlines. Between the doomscroll headlines and the endless stream of “this tool changes everything” posts, one thing became painfully clear: leaders needed a place to make sense of it all.

So the real question became: how do we bridge the gap between hype and actual progress?

Enter HumanX.

We didn’t set out to build another rinse-and-repeat conference. We wanted to build an ecosystem—something that could deliver inspiration, foundation, and action all in one experience.

• Inspiration: Content that helps people see what’s possible—not someday, but now.
• Foundation: For those afraid to ask what a transformer model actually does.
• Action: For those ready to move from slides to strategies. No-fluff case studies, masterclasses, deep dives, and industry-specific sessions that turn ideas into strategic next steps.

To bring it to life, we tapped speakers from global giants like Amazon, Meta, Mistral AI, Snowflake, and more—people who aren’t just talking about AI but shipping it. People who have receipts. These weren’t theoretical academics or career panelists. These were your future collaborators, competitors, or co-conspirators.

But we didn’t stop there.

We built what we call our threaded model—because let’s be honest, traditional conference programming is a mess. It’s like speed dating crossed with a game of musical chairs. At HumanX, every session is part of a narrative arc. No overlapping chaos (ok, less overlapping chaos), no stage pinball, no “wait, why am I in a retail AI talk when I run compliance?”

Whether you’re a C-suite exec or a startup founder, your content path made sense. Each session fed into the next—so you left with more than just soundbites. You left with a perspective.

Still, something was missing.

By late 2024, we realized we needed one more layer—the real-talk, face-to-face kind. Enter Peer [X]change and Interactive Sessions. Think expert roundtables, small-group Q&As, and industry-specific breakfasts with the people you actually wanted to meet. These weren’t side events—they were the glue holding everything together. And judging by the feedback, they hit home. In fact, they quickly became some of the most talked-about parts of HumanX 2025.

By the time March 2025 rolled around, I knew we had something special; but even then, I didn’t expect the wave that hit. Media coverage. Viral moments. Wall-to-wall buzz. Attendees were floored—not just by the programming, but by the whole experience. HumanX didn’t feel like a first-year event. It felt like something that had been missing for a while.

And the truth is—we’re just getting started.

Next up? San Francisco. The epicenter of AI. The mothership. Where code meets capital, and where HumanX 2026 will raise the stakes all over again.

If you thought Vegas was big, just wait.

See you in the Bay. Let’s level up.