eMerge Americas 2025: My First-Time Experience at the Frontier of Innovation—and Why We Need to Speak AI in Human

A Walk Through the Future
The setup was unlike any other. From banking to hospitality, education to cybersecurity, the range of industries present showcased how deeply embedded technology has become in every corner of life. These sectors weren’t just coexisting—they were converging.

Industries Represented at eMerge Americas 2025:

• Financial Services

• Logistics & Transportation

• Healthcare

• Telecommunications

• Higher Education

• Cybersecurity

• Government & Trade Agencies

• Hospitality & Tourism

• Venture Capital / Startups

• Artificial Intelligence / Software

• Media & Entertainment

With 20,000+ attendees, 4,000+ participating companies, and 200+ keynote speakers, the event became a marketplace of minds and a playground for innovation. Booths were immersive, featuring everything from real-time AI demos to VR learning simulations.

Professor Deleon using Oculus at the eMerge Americas 2025

Where Deals Happen and Ideas Grow

One of the most unique aspects of eMerge is the mix of participants. You’re just as likely to network with a founder of a Latin American tech startup as you are to sit beside a decision-maker from Google, Meta, or Microsoft.

Audience Profile Breakdown (Source: eMerge Americas):

• 32% C-suite & executives

• 26% Startups & entrepreneurs

• 18% Higher education / Research institutions

• 12% Public sector

• 7% VC/Private Equity

• 5% Media & Press

This diversity fosters not just deal-making, but idea-sharing. The conference acts as a bridge between enterprise-scale innovation and grassroots disruption. But it also highlighted a gap…

Tech for All? Not Quite Yet.
As immersive and electrifying as the event was, I couldn’t help but notice the widening gap between those thriving in tech and those simply surviving it.

I spoke with educators, small business owners, and first-time attendees who expressed excitement—but also confusion. Many were intrigued by artificial intelligence but felt lost in a sea of jargon, demos, and futuristic promises.

Here lies the challenge: how do we ensure AI isn’t just for the tech elite?

Let’s Talk AI—Like Humans Do

AI can feel distant- even intimidating if you’re not a software engineer or data scientist. But here’s the thing: AI is not just for coders. It’s for the entrepreneur planning a marketing campaign, the teacher adapting their curriculum, the freelancer building a brand, or the traveler planning a trip.

So how do we explain AI in simple terms?

Here’s the analogy that helped me:
AI is like a super brain—one that simulates how humans think, solve problems, and make decisions. It’s not magic. It’s just a smarter, faster version of problem-solving—minus the human error.

And that’s where the opportunity lies.

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Imagine if more people knew that AI could:

• Create a week’s worth of meals based on what’s in your fridge

• Design an entire travel itinerary for a multi-country trip.

• Help you draft a pitch deck, budget, or business plan.

• Translate an idea into a working prototype.

• Analyze thousands of customer reviews to improve your service.

Now imagine how powerful the world could be if everyone—not just techies—felt equipped to use it.

The Role of Education & Communication in AI Adoption
As someone in the education sector, I take responsibility for helping bridge that gap. We can—and must—create better on-ramps to understanding and using AI.

That starts with:

1. Simplified Language – Cut the jargon. Speak human.

2. Relevant Use Cases – Show how AI helps solve real-life problems.

3. Accessible Platforms – Ensure tools are easy to use, not just powerful.

4. Empathetic Messaging – Address fears, not just features.

It’s time to stop preaching AI and start partnering with people to co-create their future with it.

A Lesson for Marketers & Brands
The takeaway from eMerge is clear: the brands and organizations that will lead the next decade are those who connect—not just code.

Marketing must evolve from product pushing to value sharing.
From “what we do” to “how this helps you.”
From “look at our features” to “here’s how your life gets better.”

In a digital world overflowing with options, relevance isn’t earned with a flashy ad. It’s earned through meaningful, empowering interaction.

Conclusion: Make AI Your BBF (Best Business Friend)
Leaving eMerge, I wasn’t just inspired—I was committed. To helping regular people, like myself just months ago, make AI their best business friend. Not a threat. Not an enigma. Just a tool to live, work, and think smarter.

So whether you’re a brand, educator, entrepreneur, or student, the challenge ahead is clear:

– Make tech human.
– Make AI accessible.
– Make communication inclusive.

Because the future we saw at eMerge isn’t coming—it’s already here.

And everyone deserves a seat at the table.

By Laura Rojas

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