Since launching last year, HumanX has earned a reputation as a major platform for the boldest and brightest minds across the AI ecosystem. In just a short time, HumanX has made great strides as the AI conference to attend—take it from us, we had the pleasure of attending their event in San Francisco and got to witness firsthand the energy, education, and excitement onsite.
Built by the team behind Money20/20, Shoptalk, and HLTH, HumanX launches its expansion into Europe on September 22-24 in Amsterdam. Bringing together 2,500+ attendees, the event focuses on high-impact AI adoption as a bridge uniting Europe's thriving AI community with its global counterparts.
We sat down with Shauna Kiely, Head of Content - EMEA at HumanX, about the launch of their first-ever iteration in Europe, what attendees can expect, and what makes a stellar speaking submission.
Ready to witness the wonders of AI in Amsterdam? We have you covered with an exclusive discount. Register to attend here and use the code HX26EP_CRED to take 30% off your ticket.
With the success of HumanX in San Francisco and Las Vegas, what sets HumanX apart from other AI events? What fueled the decision to expand to Europe?
Shauna: Most events are great for seeing what’s possible, but HumanX is built for the people actually tasked with making it work. We differentiate by being strictly no pay-to-play and ruthlessly focused on the "how," the ROI, the policy, and the cross-functional strategy that is often overlooked.
As for Europe? It’s having a massive moment. We’re seeing incredible momentum from powerhouses like Nscale, Mistral, ElevenLabs, and Synthesia. But we kept hearing the same thing: the European ecosystem is hungry for a direct line to Silicon Valley without the 11+ hour flight. We’re bringing HumanX to Amsterdam to be that physical bridge, creating a space where the best of European innovation meets the strategic playbooks of the Valley to drive real-world impact.
What are the top speaker or submission qualities you look for when curating the HumanX program?
Shauna: For us, it’s the “doers,” the people that are actively trying to innovate within the AI space, whether you’re a lean startup or a global corporation, we want to hear from you. How has AI changed the way you operate? What successes have you had?
Beyond a great story, we look for speakers who can leverage their wider ecosystem to add value. Can you bring your lead investor to discuss the market landscape? Can you bring the LLM partner you’re building with to do a deep dive into the architecture? We want speakers who don’t just stand on a stage, but actively want to ensure their talk is one that is fresh, innovative and one our audiences cannot miss.
Most common submission/speaker proposals mistakes you see?
Shauna: Too much info, or not enough! Since announcing our speakers so far, the interest has been truly incredible, which means you’ve about 30 seconds to really grab our attention. The main four things we look for are:
Who are you proposing?
What can they speak on?
What makes this talk different from ones you can see at other conferences?
Who can you leverage from your network to amplify your talk as a co-speaker?
Don’t submit a talk you’ve given at another conference, we want to hear what fresh ideas you’re bringing to the table. With the world's leading media in attendance, we’re curating for newsworthiness. If your talk doesn’t feel like it’s pushing the industry forward, it’s probably not for HumanX.
What industry trends are you starting to see that you want to feature more on stage?
Shauna: Physical AI is something we're really leaning into in Amsterdam. For the first time, we'll have a dedicated Physical AI Pavilion, partnered with NVIDIA. Robotics, humanoids, autonomous systems, industrial automation: working technology demonstrated live by the teams behind it. Europe has one of the largest industrial bases in the world, and frankly, the appetite here for understanding what's actually deployable today is enormous.
Second, we can't talk about Europe without talking about regulation. With HumanX Amsterdam taking place just a month after the EU AI Act implementation deadline, the timing is critical. We’re bringing together the policymakers and C-suite leaders who are currently navigating the impact of these rules. It’s about how regulation can actually become a catalyst for sovereign AI and Trustworthy AI that wins on a global stage.
What is something you wish more attendees knew about before attending HumanX? Any hidden gems or can't-miss sessions you want to highlight?
Shauna: Our interactive sessions are truly some of my favourites at our events and I have such FOMO hearing about them while I’m producing backstage! We don’t do live Q&As during our onstage talks, these are done in more intimate sessions. It gives our attendees direct access to some of the biggest Founders and CEO’s in the world, in intimate sessions you won’t usually find them in.
Second: Don't arrive late. There is a specific buzz on opening night that you can't replicate. Everyone is fresh, the energy is high, and the most unexpected connections start happening before the first keynote even begins. It’s that pre-day 1 excitement where the "bridge" between the European ecosystem and Silicon Valley actually starts to form.
Who would benefit the most from attending HumanX?
Shauna: Honestly, anyone who is done with the "why" and is ready for the "how." Whether you’re a founder scaling an AI startup or a Chief Innovation Officer at a global corporation, HumanX is built for the people tasked with integrating AI into the real world. We want every attendee to leave with an actionable takeaway; something they can actively implement, a framework they can pitch to their board, or a partnership that solves a technical hurdle. If you’re responsible for an AI roadmap, you belong here.
What is one thing you want attendees to take away from HumanX?
Shauna: I think it's that you never know what will come from the event so enter every conversation with an open mind! We want everyone to leave feeling like they’ve learned something new, and made valuable new connections. Say hi to everyone, you never know who is next to you in the coffee line. It could be your next lead investor, a future co-founder, or an engineer that has solved the exact problem you’re facing.
