The HumanX conference in Las Vegas brought together the worlds of artificial intelligence and human interaction in a unique way. It wasn’t just about tech; it was about people, too. Attendees, who invested between $995 and $3995 to be there, found themselves in an environment that blended networking with some well-deserved leisure. Imagine a place where you could chat with industry leaders, then unwind at a speakeasy, enjoy a massage, or even relax in a dog park. Sounds refreshing, doesn’t it?
The event wrapped up with a lively performance by Wyclef Jean. He didn’t just perform; he mixed with the crowd, perfectly capturing the conference’s spirit of personal interaction. Stefan Weitz, the co-founder and CEO of HumanX, emphasized the value of these connections. He highlighted how a Midwestern CTO could have a meaningful conversation with someone like Vinod Khosla, one of OpenAI’s early investors. That’s the kind of opportunity you don’t get every day.
One of the highlights was the intimate Q&A sessions with industry bigwigs like Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s CTO. These sessions were a hot ticket, with lines stretching over 400 people. As Weitz put it, “To be in a room with Kevin [Weil] and when he can literally look in the eyes of people that are using his product every day and asking questions as a product person, that’s really powerful.” It’s not just about hearing from the experts; it’s about engaging with them.
HumanX, founded by Weitz and Jonathan Weiner, is riding the wave of current tech trends. They’ve already secured $6.2 million in venture funding from firms like Primary Ventures and FPV Ventures. While this first event wasn’t expected to turn a profit, they’re already planning to expand next year’s conference in San Francisco. Given the Bay Area’s deep ties to AI investment, it seems like a smart move.
In the vibrant backdrop of the Fountainbleau Las Vegas casino, attendees like Jai Das of Sapphire Ventures opted out of gambling, drawing a parallel to the high-stakes nature of venture capital, especially in AI. “I don’t gamble,” Das noted, “I gamble enough with my LPs money.” Katelin Holloway, a founding partner at 776, offered a critique on the market’s inflated valuations, suggesting that going public might not be the best move right now.
But it wasn’t all work and no play. HumanX offered spaces like the dog park for attendees to take a breather from the conference hustle. As Steffan Mos from Vectera put it, “It was a good break to disconnect from the craziness of the conference.”
