Pine Bluff AI Summit to equip Arkansas entrepreneurs with practical AI strategies

By Arkansas Black Vitality Staff

Pine Bluff, Arkansas – May 8, 2025 — ReMix Ideas, in partnership with the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce, will host the inaugural Pine Bluff AI Summit next week, featuring top executives in the transformative artificial intelligence field to discuss practical issues.

The one-way event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Pine Bluff Arts & Science Center, located at 701 South Main Street. ReMix Ideas CEO Benito Lubazibwa said the summit will provide business owners and entrepreneurs with real-world strategies for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, marketing, and growth planning.

“Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way businesses operate—and the revolution is well underway. Small businesses cannot afford to be left behind,” said Lubazibwa. “Entrepreneurs who leverage AI will lead the future; those who ignore it will be left in the past.”

The event is being held just one week after a new study by Bentonville-based Heartland Forward, Gallup, and the Walton Family Foundation reveals that Gen Z youth in the Midwest U.S. are embracing AI, but feel largely unprepared for an AI-driven future due to gaps in education and workplace policies

In a survey of nearly 1,500 young people aged 13 to 28 living across 20 heartland states, 77% report using generative AI tools like ChatGPT, with 43% saying they do so weekly. Despite this widespread adoption, only 10% of K-12 students reported that their teachers have helped prepare them to use AI in future jobs or education, and only 9% of working Gen Zers felt extremely prepared to use AI at work.

The findings were presented on Thursday (May 8) by Angie Cooper, president and chief operating officer of Heartland Forward, and Romy Drucker, director of the education program at the Walton Family Foundation. The presentation took place at the Heartland Summit, Heartland Forward’s flagship event in Bentonville, where approximately 350 policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, philanthropists, and thought leaders from across the country discussed the implications of AI on today’s workforce.

“Artificial intelligence is reshaping tomorrow’s economy and redefining how we compete, learn and innovate today,” said Ross DeVol, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Heartland Forward. “These findings underscore the pressing need for expanded AI training and education across the Heartland. That’s why Heartland Forward is committed to preparing the middle of the country to lead on AI by encouraging innovation, supporting forward-looking public policies and delivering accessible upskilling opportunities.”

Likewise, attendees at the Pine Bluff summit will hear directly from founders and experts using AI to drive business results. The event will feature fireside chats, a keynote speech, and networking opportunities, all designed to explore how AI can be applied in real, practical ways to improve operations, marketing, and long-term growth.

“The AI Summit brings real tools to real people. In the Delta, innovation must be inclusive. This event ensures our businesses don’t just catch up, but move ahead,” said Joni Alexander, president of the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce.

The sponsors of this summit include the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation U.S. Bank, DART (Data Analytics that are Robust and Trusted), the Arkansas National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, SURGE Arkansas, Epicenter Memphis, and Southern Bancorp.

The featured speakers include:

– David Hailey, CEO & Founder of Countifi Inc.

– Don Ward, CEO & Founder of Laundris Corp.

– Karen Kilroy, Founder of NYX NoCode

– Jakob Michaelis, Founder of Auxigen

– Chris Thompson, CEO of Sober Sidekick

– Oginga Carr, CEO of Epiphany Consulting

– Audrey P. Willis, Chief Innovation & Program Officer of CodeCrew

To register for the event, go to www.pbtechsummit.com