The Atlantic AI Conference

Last week in Fredericton, the Atlantic AI Conference was held at UNB and it seemed so fitting that the national AI strategy was launched at the same time. There were a significant variety of panels and keynotes and a great energy with networking, collaboration and lots of discussions.

TechImpact CEO Cathy Simpson attended and particularly enjoyed the Strategies for AI Adoption session on the second day that included TechImpact members Tony Sheehan of NorthBound Advisory, Jon Barry of MNP, Charles Gervais of iTransform, and Ryan Proudfoot of SmartSkin Technologies. 

Several recurring themes emerged throughout the discussions, particularly the importance of starting with practical, everyday AI adoption before progressing to higher-value initiatives such as process mapping, workflow redesign, and proof-of-concept development.

From Pilots to Productivity: How Small Businesses Can Actually Adopt AI was the focus of Tony Sheehan’s session and it captured a challenge we see every day with small and medium-sized businesses. AI tools are no longer out of reach. Many organizations already have access to ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, meeting assistants, and automation platforms. But access is not adoption. The real challenge is moving beyond experimentation and turning AI activity into measurable business impact.

Jon Barry spoke about Work Changes at the Task Level, or It Does Not Change, and how a private experiment on his own life became the method he now use with clients. He also addressed why the gap between adopting AI and being transformed by it closes in exactly one place. You can read more here.

SmartSkin's presentation, How AI Changed Our Product, the Way We Work, and the People We Hire, captured the reality many organizations are facing. AI is no longer just a productivity tool; it is fundamentally reshaping products, business processes, workforce needs, and organizational strategy.

Charles Gervais introduced the concept of Managed Intelligence in the AI Era, emphasizing the importance of capturing and applying institutional and tribal knowledge at critical decision points. 

Jon Barry reinforced the need for a ground-up approach, demonstrating how task-level AI discovery can transform adoption efforts into true organizational transformation. By identifying opportunities at the workflow level, businesses can move beyond experimentation and unlock meaningful operational and strategic value.

Together, these perspectives highlighted a common journey: successful AI adoption begins with solving everyday problems, but its greatest impact comes when organizations intentionally connect those early wins to broader transformation efforts.

What Cathy appreciated most across the presentations and panel discussions was the sense of optimism about what lies ahead, balanced with a thoughtful recognition of the responsibilities that come with AI adoption. She expects these conversations will continue to evolve and deepen as more businesses move from exploration to implementation, creating ongoing opportunities to share knowledge, build confidence, and support customers in adopting AI in meaningful, practical, and impactful ways.

Congratulations to TechImpact members, UNB and the RIDSAI team for convening this community.