digitalNow 2025 kicked off this morning in Chicago, and if you're following along from home or planning to join us for Days 2 and 3, here's what you need to know. This year's conference schedule reveals something significant: we're past the "what is AI?" phase. Associations are in what we're calling AI adolescence - beyond initial experimentation but not yet at full maturity.
The questions have shifted from "should we try AI?" to "how do we make it actually work?"
What the Schedule Tells Us
Looking at the conference agenda, the shift is clear. The word "tools" appears eight times, "trust" six times, and "culture" four times. What's almost completely absent? Sessions titled "Introduction to AI" or "Getting Started with ChatGPT."
Instead, we're seeing implementation studies. Real practitioners from associations sharing what they actually did:
- ICBA rebuilding five websites using member behavior data
- Northern Virginia Association of Realtors transforming their content architecture to be AI-ready
- American Academy of Pediatrics building an intelligent member experience
- American Geophysical Union walking through 18 months of AI deployments and business outcomes
The conference is meeting associations where they are right now - ready to move beyond pilots and build something that delivers actual value.
The Keynote Lineup
Monday, November 3rd - Day 1
Amith Nagarajan - Unlocking the Agents: The New Frontier of Collective Intelligence
The opening keynote explored how AI agents mark a profound shift in how humans and machines work together. Amith examined the exponential trajectory of AI and the emergence of collective intelligence, where interconnected, autonomous systems and human insight blend seamlessly. The focus: what this agent-driven future means for associations, from transforming member experiences to reshaping how work gets done.
Marcus Sheridan - Becoming the Undisputed Voice of Trust
Marcus addressed the existential question facing associations: why would members come to you when they can Google anything or ask ChatGPT? His keynote tackled trust in an era where attention is scarce and patience is thin. Key topics included:
- Why video and visual learning aren't optional anymore
- The rise of "seller-free" experiences and what that means for membership sales
- How self-service tools can give members more autonomy while driving engagement
- Becoming the undisputed voice of trust in your space
Bryan Kelly - The Longevity Economy Meets AI
With one in three Americans soon to be over 50, we're entering what experts call the "Super Age." Bryan explored how the convergence of AI and the longevity economy creates strategic opportunities for associations. The session examined creating member experiences grounded in clarity, trust, and respect - turning aging into an advantage and AI into an ally for serving both older professionals and younger workers entering the field.
Conor and Finn Grennan - Building Cultures of Critical Thinking
This father-son keynote brought two generational perspectives to AI adoption. Their central message: culture, not tools, determines AI success. The question they posed matters for every association - how do we create a generation that doesn't just know how to use AI, but knows how to think with it? Because the future of your workforce and your members depends on building critical thinkers in an AI-driven world.
Tuesday, November 4th - Day 2
Ian Andrews - AI Infrastructure and the Future
Ian will explore the infrastructure-level thinking associations need, covering inference technologies, energy-efficient AI architectures, and emerging regulatory frameworks. Expect real-world examples of how AI can enhance member engagement and streamline operations, with strategic insights for staying relevant in an increasingly digital landscape.
Dr. Param Dedhia & Thomas Altman - The Brain and AI
This keynote examines the surprising parallels between human brains and artificial intelligence - and the critical gaps that separate them. The session will explore how neuroplasticity, bias, and attention shape both biological and artificial systems, and how mindfulness and intentionality can turn AI from a passive tool into a powerful partner.
John Huisman - From Pilots to Performance
After all the pilots and proof-of-concepts, what separates organizations achieving tangible outcomes from those still searching for their first win? John will translate enterprise-scale lessons into actionable strategies association leaders can implement immediately to drive measurable member and financial outcomes.
Dr. Denise Herzing - Using AI to Study Dolphin Communication
One of the conference's most fascinating sessions explores using machine learning to look for language patterns and complexity in dolphin sounds. Dr. Herzing will discuss custom programs like UHURA, Video/Sound AI interfaces, and DolphinGemma - a collaboration with Georgia Tech and Google DeepMind. This keynote shows AI isn't just about operational efficiency. It's about expanding what's possible in research and understanding.
Dr. Param Dedhia - Mindfulness and AI (Interactive Session)
In a world moving at breakneck speed, our best work doesn't come from running harder. This interactive session will strip away myths around mindfulness and demonstrate how moments of presence can sharpen focus, boost performance, and improve connection. Participants will leave with practical tools they can use immediately in leadership, life, and their busiest days.
Wednesday, November 5th - Day 3
Innovation Showcase: From Guesswork to Growth - Harnessing the Power of AI Predictive Modeling
This hands-on workshop will demystify AI predictive modeling, showing how it can help associations engage and retain members more intelligently. The session includes group action planning where participants define next steps and build use cases for addressing specific challenges in their organizations.
Deploying AI and NLP for Business Impact
AGU's Thad Lurie will present their 18-month journey deploying AI applications and services, focusing on specific business outcomes and impact rather than technical solutions. Designed to be accessible for all association executives, even those with only passing knowledge of AI.
What the Breakout Sessions Reveal
Beyond keynotes, the breakout tracks tell their own story about where associations are with AI:
Implementation Sessions focus on real deployment journeys - associations sharing what worked, what didn't, and what their members gained. These sessions cover 18-month cycles and measurable impact, not theoretical possibilities.
Foundation-Building Sessions dig into content architecture, taxonomy, and metadata. The unglamorous infrastructure that makes AI actually work. Why you can't just slap ChatGPT on your website and call it transformation. What needs to be in place before you can scale.
Culture and People Sessions explore creating "safe to try" environments and judgment-free exploration spaces. Innovation frameworks like Shark Tank-style contests. How to demystify AI for non-technical staff so they see themselves as valuable contributors. Bridging the gap between enthusiasts and skeptics.
Hands-On Sessions include predictive modeling workshops, building AI tools for specific challenges like advocacy and collaboration, and AI microlearning applications. Every session ends with concrete next steps you can implement.
The Interactive Elements
Beyond sessions, digitalNow includes:
- Deep dive conversations with keynote speakers for extended Q&A
- Keynote panel discussions - Mary Byers facilitated Day 1, and I'll be facilitating the Day 2 panel for real-time questions
- Hands-on workshops with action plans you can take back to your organization
- AAiP Pinning Ceremony celebrating professionals who earned their Association AI Professional Certification
- digitalNow Innovation Awards honoring association leaders driving meaningful change
- Networking throughout (because learning from peers often matters as much as the sessions)
- Evening reception with food, drinks, and gaming in downtown Chicago
For Those Who Can't Attend
If you're not in Chicago this week, keynote sessions will be added to the AI Learning Hub a few weeks after the event. You'll miss the practitioner breakout sessions, networking, and the energy of in-person conversations, but the keynotes tackle the big strategic questions that matter for every association leader thinking about AI's role in their organization's future.
Stay connected by following along on social media or checking the Sidecar Sync podcast for updates.
Where We Are Right Now
digitalNow 2025 is capturing a unique moment. The AI adolescence phase, where associations are figuring out what comes after experimentation. The schedule makes it clear: we're done asking "should we try AI?" The question now is "how do we make it actually work?"
From agents and collective intelligence to trust and infrastructure, from culture change to dolphin communication, this conference represents where association leaders are right now. Ready to move beyond pilots. Ready to build something real. Ready to figure out how AI fits into the mission-driven work associations do best.
Whether you're here in Chicago or following along from home, that's the story digitalNow 2025 is telling.
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