MAICON 2025: Live From Cleveland at the Intersection of Marketing and AI

Cleveland is buzzing this week as the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2025 kicks off, drawing hundreds of forward-thinking marketers, strategists, and technologists to the North Coast. Hosted by the Marketing AI Institute, MAICON is where the conversation about artificial intelligence in marketing gets real—bridging theory, tools, and transformation. It’s an event designed not just to explore what AI can do, but to help businesses unlock practical, scalable value. A Strong Start: Workshops that Hit the Mark The pre-conference workshops were well received, offering hands-on guidance for attendees eager to turn AI theory into action. From marketing automation to generative storytelling, the sessions provided tangible takeaways that attendees can apply right away. The Marketing AI Institute has confirmed that select content from these workshops will be available on demand to conference attendees, giving everyone a chance to catch up on what they missed. One attendee summed up the day’s tone perfectly, noting keynote speaker Paul Roetzer’s point that while most people think in terms of 20% optimization, AI is reshaping conversations in the realm of 10x or even 100x growth. Another attendee remarked that the real challenge isn’t just adopting AI but leading people through the change—“building the boat while it’s already sailing down the stream.” Another standout sessions came from Andy Crestodina, who broke down the current state of B2B lead generation. Attendee Brendan Gualdoni from AriesSolutions.io found Andy’s insights particularly relevant, noting how more people are now turning to AI chat tools for recommendations. As a result, companies are rethinking who their websites are actually designed to communicate with… humans, or the AI assistants advising them. Conversations that Matter The day wasn’t all lectures and note-taking. It was about connecting with the humans in the loop, too. I had the chance to meet fellow AI Salon member Gwyn Chafetz in real life for…