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.
Paul Roetzer has spent his career at the intersection of marketing and innovation, always asking, “What’s next?” You might know him as the co-host of The Artificial Intelligence Show, the co-author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence, or the visionary behind this Marketing AI Conference (MAICON).
What began as an experiment within his former agency, as a simple blog and newsletter, has since grown into the Marketing AI Institute, a global hub for AI education with more than 100,000 subscribers. Along the way, Paul has launched groundbreaking initiatives, including the AI Literacy Project and AI Academy 3.0, under the Institute’s parent company, SmarterX.
At MAICON, Paul will share his perspective on the future of work, challenging us to rethink creativity, productivity, and what it truly means to thrive in the age of AI.
Session Preview: Prepare for Your Own "Move37" Moment
In 2016, Google’s AlphaGo stunned the world by defeating champion Lee Sedol in the ancient game of Go, a match remembered for the unexpected brilliance of “Move 37.” In that moment, Sedol realized something profound: AI had surpassed even his most creative instincts.
Paul believes each of us will soon face our own “Move 37” moment at work.
“It might be micro-moments, like AI that can write better or create more engaging artwork,” he said. “Regardless, there is a reasonable chance you're going to have that moment where you realize AI will do that thing better.
"So, we need to prepare for this moment and be optimistic about what we can do from there.”
Our response shouldn't be to fear these moments, but to prepare for them by exploring today’s models, understanding what’s on the horizon, and reframing what it means to be human in an AI-powered world. The key, Paul believes, is optimism.
In his session, Paul will guide us through this journey, offering not only practical insights but also a fresh perspective on creativity, productivity, and purpose.
Lesson(s) Learned: AI's Untapped Potential
AI is capable of far more than most people realize.
“Many professionals still don’t fully grasp how AI can tackle deep research and complex problem-solving,” Paul said. “Because of this, many professionals aren't prepared for, or understand, what is truly possible.
"Once you do, it will change your entire perspective on the future of work.”
AI shouldn’t just influence your career decisions; it should also shape how you think about hiring and team planning. After all, how can you make the right "people" decisions if you don’t understand what AI can already do?
Looking Ahead: AI Disruption is Coming
“AI is going to be way more disruptive than most people understand or want to believe,” Paul said.
He explained that leaders who already are applying AI will have a big advantage, and those who refuse to embrace it will experience a period of intense disruption.
The big frontier models are beginning to take action. For example, OpenAI is responding to this change through the launch of its AI hiring platform, scheduled to come to the marketplace in 2026.
Paul notes that the changes ahead can be unnerving, but they also offer a big opportunity for professionals to rethink careers, pivot into new opportunities, and reimagine what’s possible for themselves.
Links We Like
[The AI Show Episode 141]: Road to AGI and Beyond
In the premiere episode of The Road to AGI series, Paul explores why Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could be just around the corner, why its definition keeps evolving, and how leaders can get ready for major disruption… sooner than anticipated. Check out the episode, along with show notes and the full transcript.
AI Academy: Accelerate AI Mastery
Upskill your teams with curated learning journeys across our course series (AI Fundamentals, Piloting AI, and Scaling AI), plus our all-new AI for Departments and AI for Industries collections. Stay current with ongoing programs like the Gen AI App Series and AI Live. From real-world applications to hands-on tools, you’ll drive measurable outcomes and earn certificates that showcase AI readiness and strategic leadership, empowering you to be the change agent. Someone who can scale knowledge and confidence across your organization.
Paul’s Session at MAICON
The Move 37 Moment for Knowledge Workers
In 2016, Google’s AlphaGo AI system defeated the world Go champion, Lee Sedol, in a shocking exhibition that turned on what became known as “Move 37.” It was at this moment Sedol realized the machine had surpassed his own abilities, shown true creativity, and transformed the 4,000-year-old game.
What Sedol experienced in Go—his “Move 37”—is coming for every knowledge worker, in every industry.
AI is on a near-term path to surpass the average human at most cognitive tasks. And many AI researchers, including some leaders of Google DeepMind, believe AI systems will achieve superhuman levels at all cognitive tasks (i.e. better than the best humans) by the end of the decade.
What does this actually mean for the future of work?
In this session, AI author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Paul Roetzer explores the current capabilities of AI models, previews the potential AI advancements on the horizon, and shares what we can learn from the infamous “Move 37.”
This session will deliver invaluable perspectives and provide hope and inspiration as we reimagine the future of work, creativity, and human purpose.
Keep Up with Paul (and AI)
Stay inspired and follow along with Paul’s AI journey:
- Follow Paul on LinkedIn.
- Subscribe to The Artificial Intelligence Show.
- Start your AI transformation with AI Academy by SmarterX.
- Accelerate AI literacy with SmarterX.
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!
