Jeff Kagan to keynote Summit of Things 2026

Industry analyst Jeff Kagan will open Summit of Things 2026 in New York on Oct. 27-29, where the conference will focus on AI, IoT, edge computing, connectivity and cybersecurity. His keynote will frame AI as a major business shift and outline how leaders can adapt their strategy, messaging and operations.

Why it matters: - Summit of Things 2026 is positioning AI as a core business issue, not just a technical one. - The conference is aimed at executives and decision-makers who need to understand how AI, IoT, edge computing, connectivity and cybersecurity are converging. - Kagan's keynote is designed to connect past technology transitions with the business choices companies face now.

What happened: - Jeff Kagan will deliver the opening keynote at the first general session of Summit of Things 2026, hosted by IoT Marketing. - The conference runs Oct. 27-29, 2026, in New York. - The event will bring together global thought leaders, technology innovators, business executives and decision-makers. - Summit of Things 2026 will feature keynote presentations, expert panels and interactive sessions.

The details: - The three-day conference will focus on artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, edge computing, connectivity, cybersecurity and the convergence of those technologies. - Kagan's keynote is titled "The AI Revolution: Lessons from the Internet That Every Business Leader Needs to Know." - Kagan advises CEOs and senior leadership teams on technology strategy and business transformation. - Kagan said the AI revolution is changing every company and every industry. - Kagan said the Internet revolution of the 1990s offers lessons for today's business leaders. - Kagan said AI is another defining moment in technology history and that executives need to understand where the shift is headed. - Kagan said previous technology revolutions reshaped the marketplace quickly and that AI is expected to affect businesses, investors, customers, employees and society even faster and more broadly. - Kagan said the Internet created major opportunities for innovation and growth in the 1990s while also contributing to the collapse of many companies during the dot-com downturn. - Amazon and Google emerged from that period to become two of the world's most influential technology companies. - Kagan said some companies will become future market leaders because they recognize the transformation early and act decisively. - Kagan said other companies will struggle or disappear. - Kagan said every CEO and leadership team needs a strategy for the next era of innovation. - Kagan's keynote will target CEOs, senior executives, investors, technology leaders, marketers and other decision-makers. - The presentation will address how AI is changing communications with customers, investors, employees, partners and the marketplace. - Kagan said clear positioning, effective messaging and strong communications strategies will become increasingly important competitive advantages. - Summit of Things 2026 is described as building on previous conferences by encouraging collaboration, innovation and strategic thinking.

Between the lines: - The conference pitch suggests AI is now being treated as a boardroom and market-positioning issue as much as a product or infrastructure issue. - Kagan's focus on communications signals that companies may need to rethink how they explain AI strategy to internal and external audiences, not just how they deploy the technology. - The Internet comparison frames AI as a platform shift with winners and losers, which is meant to sharpen urgency for executives.

What's next: - Summit of Things 2026 will take place Oct. 27-29, 2026. - Kagan's keynote will open the conference's first general session. - Companies interested in speaking with Jeff Kagan or including him in an Industry Analyst Relations program are invited to contact him directly at Jeff Kagan's website, LinkedIn or X. - Media may use the announcement in coverage of the story.

The bottom line: - Summit of Things 2026 is betting that executives want practical guidance on how to compete in the AI era, and Kagan's keynote will frame that shift as urgent, broad and unavoidable.