MAICON brings together top visionaries and experts in the field of AI during a three-day conference packed with actionable sessions and networking events—all to position you as the change agent your organization (and career) needs. In this ongoing speaker series, we’re featuring these extraordinary leaders, with forward-looking predictions, actionable tips you can use today, and a preview of their MAICON 2025 sessions.
Joshua Xu is the Co-founder and CEO of HeyGen, the leading AI video generator named G2’s #1 fastest-growing product in 2025. He is dedicated to building ethical, user-centered AI that empowers businesses and creators, making visual storytelling accessible to everyone.
Joshua earned his master’s degree in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University, specializing in large-scale machine learning, computer vision, and generative AI. Before launching HeyGen in 2020, he spent six years as a founding engineer at Snapchat, where he helped develop AI-powered camera technology and digital content creation tools.
At MAICON, Joshua will share his expertise and vision for the future of AI-driven content generation.
Session Preview: Video Is Not Only Created Behind a Camera
Traditional video production often means big budgets, long shoots, potential re-shoots, and heavy post-production—a challenge for smaller teams. But Joshua will show why that no longer has to be the case.
He says: ”Creating AI videos should be as simple as writing a document. The future of AI video should be one that is accessible to teams of all sizes and budgets.”
In his MAICON session, Joshua will explore how AI video generation is transforming content creation, helping marketers expand their reach despite time constraints and limited creative resources.
“Do not limit yourself to video produced only with a camera; there is so much more to video through the power of AI,” he adds. “Just try it and start playing around with it. You may find it’s more valuable to you than you previously thought.”
Lesson Learned: AI Thrives on Natural Imagination
Many professionals fear that AI will replace humans, but Joshua Xu disagrees. “AI accentuates and builds on people’s natural imagination and innovation,” he says. When used effectively, AI amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it.
The right technologies give marketers the tools to bring ambitious ideas to life, ideas that might otherwise have been impossible due to experience or budget constraints.
“AI creates infinite possibilities in the creative industries when it’s used for advantageous purposes, rather than creating meaningless or inappropriate content, which is the only basis some people have regarding AI,” he emphasized.
Looking Ahead: Content Engagement Is Entering Its Next Chapter
Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine, behind Google? It’s clear that consumer preference is moving from static, written content to video. That's why businesses (especially marketing teams) need to keep up in order to not get left behind.
Joshua emphasizes that “it will be crucial for creative professionals to leverage AI tools instead of resisting them.”
Why? Joshua explains:
“I predict that AI will change the way companies produce creative content for social media, marketing, education, and corporate training due to its lower cost, time efficiency, personalization features, and accessibility.”
By maximizing efficiency and elevating quality, these tools promise long-term benefits for creative industries and open up exciting possibilities across all mediums.
Links We Like
[Video] 2025 HeyGen Keynote | Unveiling the Future of AI Video Creation
At the June 2025 HeyGen Keynote, Joshua shared exciting new updates to the flagship product, the AI Avatars, and introduced the newest version, Avatar IV. This was a pivotal moment for HeyGen as it made AI Studio and Avatar IV publicly available with three groundbreaking features to enhance the way users control their avatars. This new generation of Avatar offers advanced lip-syncing, voice mirroring, gesture control, and photo-to-video avatar generation.
Watch the full video for more details on HeyGen’s new innovative product features.
[Article] Klarna used an AI avatar of its CEO to deliver earnings, it said
In Klarna’s Q1 quarterly earnings report, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski used a HeyGen avatar to deliver earnings. This is a prime example of when HeyGen should be used, as it allowed for increased efficiency for the Klarna team by reducing production costs and timelines. This moment cemented a new era for Joshua’s team—an era in which executives are embracing AI video to connect with their team and the public.
[Article] HeyGen pitches AI Studio as democratizing visual storytelling for everyone. Here's what it means
When Diginomica featured the HeyGen AI Studio launch, they highlighted exactly why it’s increasing accessibility for business leaders. HeyGen offerings enable increased control over the content executives are pushing out, while eliminating weeks of production scheduling and coordination timelines. Read the full article for more on why HeyGen is a game-changer within the industry.
Joshua’s Session at MAICON
From Text to Video in Seconds: How AI is Redefining Content Creation
What if you could turn a simple text prompt into a professional-quality video in seconds? Or better yet—turn existing written content into video. Joshua Xu, CEO of HeyGen, will dive into the cutting-edge technology behind AI video generation and how it’s reshaping the way marketers think about content creation. From ideation to execution, learn how AI can help you produce more content, faster, while maintaining brand consistency and creativity.
Keep Up with Joshua (and AI)
Stay inspired by Joshua’s work in AI, and follow his journey.
- Follow Joshua on LinkedIn and X.
- Learn more about HeyGen on their website.
- Listen to the No Priors podcast, featuring Joshua.
You can also join the HeyGen video waitlist to be among the first to explore their latest product, Agent. Joshua’s team expects this to be a pivotal moment in AI video generation.
Join Us at MAICON 2025
Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference (MAICON) was created for marketing leaders and practitioners seeking to drive the next frontier of digital marketing transformation within their organizations.
We’re excited to host our 5th annual MAICON—Marketing AI Conference—at this pivotal point for our industry. Join us from October 14 to 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio, and use the special code SPEAKERSERIES100 at checkout to receive $100 off your registration!
