How Conferences Will 10x Your AI Learning Speed (Especially When You’re Just Starting)
Yesterday, I shared in a post (access it here) the wild story of how a massive conference transformed my career in Blockchain.
I went from being completely unprepared and overwhelmed to making life-changing connections and gaining insights that moved me forward at warp speed.
Today, we’re diving into why and how hitting up conferences is the secret to 10x your learning speed in AI, especially when you’re starting out.
Here’s the deal: When you're new to AI, it feels like there’s too much to learn and nowhere to start.
You could spend months consuming online courses, reading blogs, and lurking in forums, only to find that real breakthroughs come from being in the room where the action is happening.
Later in this newsletter, you’ll get my curated list of the top 10 AI conferences you need to have on your radar to 10x your AI learning speed.
Why Conferences Are Key to Speed Up Your Learning
It’s simple: real-world immersion beats theory every time.
Here’s why:
1. You Get Access to the Best Minds in AI
- These are the movers and shakers who are actually building the future of AI.
- Instead of reading outdated blog posts, you're learning from those who are in the trenches, doing the work that matters.
2. Instant Network of High
- Impact Connections
- You don’t build a career in AI alone.
- Conferences allow you to meet hundreds (or thousands) of people in just a few days.
- The best part? Everyone’s shields are down. You’ll be surprised how approachable even the biggest names in AI can be when you’re face-to-face.
3. Accelerated Learning
- You’ll hear, see, and experience in 48 hours what would otherwise take you 6 months on your own.
- The information flows fast, and you absorb it like a sponge.
- Plus, hands-on workshops give you practical insights you can’t get from watching YouTube videos.
4. Serendipity Happens
- The magic of conferences is in the side conversations, the random encounters, the drinks after the talks.
- These are the moments that lead to unexpected opportunities that would transform your career.
The Top 10 AI Conferences You Can’t Miss
As promised, I’ve put together a curated list of the top 10 AI conferences you should be targeting right now.
These events are where the industry’s leading minds gather.
I guarantee that just showing up will put you ahead of 90% of people still sitting at their desks, googling or asking ChatGPT “best AI courses.”
How to Prepare Before the Conference
Now, showing up is one thing, but crushing it is another.
Here’s how to walk into your next AI conference like a pro:
1. Define Your Purpose
- Before you set foot in the venue, ask yourself one critical question: What’s my main goal for this conference?
- Without a clear purpose, you’ll walk away with a head full of information and no concrete action.
- Conferences are massive, fast-paced, and packed with content. You can’t do everything, so focus on just one purpose to avoid being pulled in too many directions.
A few examples:
→ Learning a specific skill: Maybe you want to master AI ethics or LLM's. Target the sessions and workshops that hit those areas hard.
→ Building your network: If you’re here to meet people, don’t obsess over attending every single talk. Instead, focus on lunches, side events, and the expo hall where the real connections happen.
→ Landing a job or client: Conferences are gold mines for informal conversations that can lead to work.
But you can’t just walk in and expect things to fall into your lap. You need to identify the companies, hiring managers, or clients you want to talk to and tailor your interactions around that.
Choosing one main goal will help you stay laser-focused and actually walk away with measurable outcomes.
You’ll be surprised how much you can achieve when you’re not running from session to session like a headless chicken.
2. Do Your Homework
Once you’ve locked down your purpose, it’s time to do your homework.
Some people show up at conferences completely unprepared, hoping to figure things out as they go.
That’s a massive mistake.
Here’s how to be one who actually walks in with a plan:
- Study the speaker lineup:
→ Who’s on the agenda? What topics are they covering?
→ Identify the sessions that align with your goals and build a customized schedule.
→ Most conferences have an app or online tool—use it! This way, you’ll never have to waste time wondering where to go next.
- Research the speakers:
→ Don’t just pick sessions randomly.
→ Look up the people presenting.
→ Read their recent work, watch interviews, or check their LinkedIn profiles. This way, you can ask smart, relevant questions during the Q&A, and maybe even strike up a conversation after the session.
- Map out your day:
→ Conferences are chaotic.
→ Rooms get packed, things run late, and you’ll need to move fast.
→ Know where everything is. Get to the venue early, walk the layout, and identify where your key sessions will be held. This way, you’ll maximize your time and not waste it running around trying to find Room 213 when the talk’s already halfway done.
3. Start Connecting Early
Conferences are ALSO about people. And the sooner you start connecting, the better.
Most conferences now offer some kind of networking platform before the event.
It might well be an app or attendee list, start reaching out 1-2 weeks in advance.
You’re not trying to close deals or book jobs right away—just making the first touch.
How to make the most of early networking:
- Start small, but strategic:
→ Identify a handful of key people you want to meet—speakers, thought leaders, hiring managers, or potential clients.
→ Send a short, polite message like:
“Hey [Name], I see we’ll both be attending [Conference]. I’m really interested in [Topic] and would love to grab coffee and chat for 15 minutes if you have time. Looking forward to meeting you!”
- Set up meetings in advance:
→ Don’t leave networking to chance.
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→ Book coffee or lunch meetings ahead of time.
→ Most conferences have designated meeting areas, so use them to your advantage.
→ Get your schedule filled before you even arrive
.- Target value, not volume:
→ Focus on a few high-value individuals or companies that align with your goals. Quality over quantity wins every time.
→ The beauty of early networking is that when you finally meet these people in person, it’s not awkward or forced. You’ve already broken the ice.
4. Prepare Your Materials
You don’t want to be caught flat-footed when someone says, “Let’s stay in touch.”
Make it easy for people to connect with you, and do it fast.
Here’s what you need in your toolkit:
- Business cards:
→ Yes, even in 2024, people still use them.
→ Have a stack ready, and don’t be shy about handing them out
.- Digital alternative:
→ Going paperless? Create a QR code that links to your LinkedIn profile or a personal website.
→ It makes sharing your contact details fast and frictionless.
→ People just scan and boom—they’ve got everything they need to connect with you.
- Social media readiness:
→ LinkedIn is your best friend at these events.
→ When you connect with someone, send them a quick LinkedIn message immediately.
→ Even better, take a photo together and send it over. It creates a memory and makes your follow-up more personal.
- Your brand:
→ Make sure everything—from your LinkedIn profile to your personal website—reflects the message you want to communicate.
→ Conferences are not the time to be figuring out your brand or message. Have it locked in before you arrive.
This stuff might seem basic, but being prepared makes you look professional, and people remember that.
5. Master Your Elevator Pitch
Now, the most important weapon in your arsenal: your elevator pitch.
You need to be able to clearly and concisely explain who you are, what you do, and why it matters—in under 30 seconds.
You’ll be having tons of casual conversations at conferences.
People will ask, “So, what do you do?” and if you fumble around with a confusing answer, that conversation is dead in the water.
Crafting a killer elevator pitch:
- Keep it short and simple:
→ The goal is to spark interest, not give a detailed breakdown of your life story. Example:
“I help companies apply machine learning to streamline their supply chains, saving them time and cutting costs.”
- Make it engaging:
→ Your pitch should make people want to know more.
→ If you can, hint at a specific result or achievement. Something that gets the other person to say, “Oh, that’s interesting—tell me more!”
- Practice, practice, practice:
→ You should be able to deliver your pitch anytime, anywhere—at 3 AM or mid-lunch.
→ Get comfortable saying it out loud, and make sure it rolls off your tongue naturally.
A well-made elevator pitch is your ticket to deeper connections at the conference.
On Conference Day: Time to Dominate
1. Arrive Early
- Beat the crowds, get your check-in sorted, and take a quick walk around the venue to locate where your sessions are happening.
- You don’t want to be fumbling around or missing out because you’re lost.
2. Be Proactive
- Introduce yourself to people, strike up conversations, and pitch your story.
- Your goal is to make connections. If there’s a conversation happening, jump in.
3. Hunt Down the Side Events
- The most valuable conversations usually don’t happen during the main event.
- Side events, afterparties, and unofficial meetups are where the juiciest deals are made.
- Ask around early in the day and make sure you’re on the list for any side event. This is where the real magic happens.
Post-Conference: Keep the Momentum Going
Once the conference is over, your work isn’t done:
1. Organize Your Contacts
- Input everyone you met into a CRM tool like HubSpot or Pipedrive.
- Don’t rely on your memory or loose notes—get everything organized.
- If you have no time, get a VA on Fiverr for example to put things in order for you.
2. Follow Up Fast
- Send a message within 24-48 hours to remind them of your conversation.
- Be specific and mention something personal you discussed (this is where that photo comes in handy).
- A simple “Hey, it was awesome meeting you at [Conference]! Let’s keep in touch” goes a long way.
3. Automate
- If you met a ton of people, use tools like GMass with Gmail to automate your follow-ups.
- Personalize the first line of each message, but let the system handle the rest.
By the time you’ve left that conference, you’ll have learned more, networked harder, and built a stronger foundation than you could’ve done in months on your own.
Trust me, conferences are your fast-track ticket to leveling up.
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Let’s rise together ??
Salama
P.S. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily tips on how to switch careers in AI with absolute clarity.
Founder & CEO | Proven systems to grow and scale your real estate development portfolio and pipeline.
1 个月Salama B. what an amazing resource. I clicked through and was amazed. What is the /pulse page you built. Thank you so much!