A year ago, AI was an experiment. Now, it’s redefining workflows, reshaping industries, and forcing companies to rethink how they operate. The HumanX conference, happening March 9-13 in Las Vegas, is the place to see this shift in real time.
With speakers from OpenAI, Meta, Google, Snowflake, and the White House, the event gathers top AI minds to explore what’s next. This week on The Disruption Is Now, Greg Matusky sat down with Andrew Blum, CEO and co-founder of HumanX, to preview what attendees can expect.
From AI’s role in business transformation to the shifting cost of intelligence, this conversation highlights some of the AI deployment strategies that will be on display at the show.
Watch now:
Key takeaways
AI is moving from hype to deployment
Companies rushed to experiment with AI after ChatGPT’s release, but moving from pilot projects to real business impact has been harder. Organizations often struggle with integration, workforce resistance, and unclear ROI. AI solutions that work in controlled environments may break down when exposed to the complexity of actual business operations.
Blum notes that the companies successfully scaling AI have prioritized workflow integration from day one. They go beyond testing and restructure entire processes. Those who treat AI as a one-off tool instead of a fundamental shift in how work gets done risk getting stuck in pilot mode indefinitely.
The cost of intelligence is dropping
One of the most underappreciated shifts in AI is the plummeting cost of intelligence. As AI models become more efficient and computational costs decline, businesses can access powerful AI capabilities for a fraction of what they once paid. This means AI isn’t just for tech giants anymore, and companies of all sizes can afford to integrate it into their workflows.
Blum points out that cheaper intelligence doesn’t just mean cost savings. Tasks that once required expensive domain experts can now be automated or augmented with AI, allowing businesses to scale expertise in ways that were previously impossible. The companies that understand this shift early will have a massive competitive edge.
AI is about eliminating friction
Matusky shared how AI has transformed his PR firm, Gregory FCA. What started as an internal experiment with AI-generated content turned into a complete workflow overhaul. AI reduced friction in client interactions, allowing his team to deliver better, faster results.
This shift — from using AI to speed up tasks to using it to rethink entire business processes — is what HumanX is all about. Blum points out that the best AI implementations don’t just make work faster; they make it smoother. Whether it’s law firms using AI to automate research or enterprises using it to streamline customer interactions, the focus is on solving real problems.
AI is reshaping expertise and career paths
Matusky highlighted an unintended side effect of AI adoption: rising self-esteem among employees. Junior team members who once needed extensive redlining and revisions can now deliver high-quality work faster, gaining confidence and improving job satisfaction.
Blum echoed this, noting that those who master AI tools will be dramatically more effective than those who don’t. In sales, AI can help reps tailor outreach and scale their efforts. In consulting, it can provide instant expertise on complex topics. Those who embrace AI will outpace those who don’t.
Key Moments in the Conversation
- The biggest companies in AI will be at HumanX, from OpenAI to Meta (02:00)
- Kamala Harris and Colin Kaepernick among the keynotes (03:09)
- AI’s impact on PR and why Gregory FCA bet early on it (04:07)
- Why some companies are struggling to scale AI beyond pilot projects (05:39)
- The shift from workflow efficiency to business transformation (07:12)
- The cost of intelligence is dropping—what that means for businesses (10:34)
- AI’s impact on expertise and self-esteem in the workplace (12:53)
- What’s the must-see session at HumanX? (16:02)
- Why AI conferences are about collaboration, not just presentations (18:09)
