Co-founded by the tech veterans behind major industry events like Money20/20, HLTH, and Shoptalk, HumanX has quickly become the leading AI conference built for enterprise leaders turning AI visions into reality. Their inaugural event in Las Vegas featured dozens of tech innovators from companies such as OpenAI, Meta, Amazon, and Salesforce—and the team shows zero signs of slowing down as they gear up to host their 2026 event on April 6-9 in San Francisco.
We sat down with Louise Tanner, Head of Content at HumanX, to discuss what it takes to become a speaker on the HumanX stage, how to get the most out of your experience while onsite, and ways they're coming into 2026 stronger than ever.
Want to be among the brightest in AI? Registration is now open and we have you covered with an exclusive discount. Register to attend here and use the code HX26P_cred to save up to $2,000 on your ticket.
What are the top 3 speaker qualities you look for when curating the HumanX program?
Louise: At HumanX, we’re looking for speakers who don’t just talk about AI, they are building it. The top qualities we value are:
Unseen Innovation: Leaders applying AI in ways the world hasn’t seen before, with direct, measurable impact on their industries and roles.
Practicality & Utility: Every session must deliver something attendees can act on, no fluff, just real, practical information.
Stage Presence & Storytelling: The ability to inspire, captivate, and distill complex ideas into insights that matter for business, policy, and technology leaders alike.
With unprecedented interest in speaking at HumanX 2026, the bar is higher than ever. What we launched in Las Vegas has fueled extraordinary demand, but it also means securing a speaking slot in San Francisco is fiercely competitive. So when pitching to us, bring your boldest, biggest ideas.
Most common submission/speaker proposals mistakes you see?
Louise: The biggest mistake? Overloading proposals. Many submissions are too long and written as if they’re a solo keynote pitch. The reality is that most speakers at HumanX participate in panels, because of the interest in speaking and the capacity we have in terms of stages at the event. The strongest proposals are concise and focused. They highlight:
If the speaker has a major announcement, news, or launch to share on stage.
Whether they can bring other high-profile leaders into the conversation, creating a session that stands out on a busy agenda.
Because AI is evolving at breakneck speed, we know it’s impossible to predict exactly what the conversation will look like in April 2026. That’s why we encourage submissions that leave room for freshness, timeliness, and bold new ideas.
Any big lessons learned since your debut event this year that you plan to bring to the 2026 event?
Louise: In 2025, our focus was introducing HumanX to the world, showing people what we stood for. The result: over 3,500 leaders (75% VP+ decision makers with purchasing authority), 300+ speakers, over 200 journalists and global coverage from top media outlets.
In 2026, it’s about sweating the small things as Steven Bartlett says. From seamless logistics to next-level attendee experiences, our goal is simple: make HumanX the single best AI event in the world. For 2026 we’re ensuring every attendee leaves not only more informed but also inspired, and already planning their return in 2027.
What is something you wish more attendees knew about when attending HumanX?
Louise: Our interactive sessions are hidden gems. They’re intentionally capped at 15–40 people to create real, unfiltered, intimate conversations with leaders you’d normally never get access to.
In 2025, Kevin Weil’s intimate Q&A had hundreds of people lined up for only 40 seats. For 2026, these sessions will be clearly flagged in the agenda, so attendees can prioritise early to make sure you get in the room. If you want your questions answered directly by the people building AI’s future, these sessions are where you need to be.
Favorite memory from last year's event?
Louse: I actually have two, and I can't pick one so I will share both.
First, meeting our incredible speakers in person. To stand alongside leaders like Kamala Harris, Kevin Weil (OpenAI), Mike Krieger (Anthropic), Ali Ghodsi (Databricks), and many more at our very first HumanX was surreal. Seeing these global shapers of AI choose HumanX as their platform made me feel both humbled and immensely proud, it was a powerful validation that HumanX belongs on the world stage.
Second, meeting the HumanX team in person for the very first time. We’re a fully remote organisation, with people spread across the globe, and Las Vegas was where colleagues became true friends. The energy and pride we felt onsite is something I’ll carry forever and it’s exactly that sense of connection we want every attendee to experience at HumanX.
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