MAICON (Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference) 2026

Anna Metsäranta is the Business AI Lead at Solita, a technology, design and strategy consultancy that helps customers utilize data and technology for impact that lasts. With her academic background in operations research (M.Sc. Econ) and 15+ years of experience in systems development, Metsäranta helps customers shape strategic initiatives and solve complex problems with multidisciplinary teams. Metsäranta is passionate about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning, while keeping the focus on real solutions for real people. She is on a mission to reduce the hype around AI and help business executives see the possibilities and limitations of AI in their own contexts.

Karen Hao is the senior AI editor at MIT Technology Review, and a speaker at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2021.

Hannah Arnson is an AI expert speaking at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2021.

Paul Roetzer is an AI expert speaking at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON) 2021.

Susan Westwater is the CEO and co-founder of Pragmatic Digital . She helps clients solve marketing and customer-experience problems via customer-centric approaches to plan and create useful and usable voice experiences for their audiences. Westwater has presented and authored a number of talks, workshops, articles, and ebooks focused on the role voice technology plays in marketing and business strategy. She co-authored Voice Strategy: Creating Useful and Usable Voice Experiences with her husband Scot. Westwater is a co-founder of Voice Masters, an online education program designed to teach innovative business teams about voice and voice strategy. She also is an ambassador for the Open Voice Network and an advocate for Women in Voice .

Scot Westwater is the CCO and co-founder of Pragmatic Digital . He focuses on developing useful and usable voice experiences to help businesses provide value to their audiences. He has created numerous videos, and has written articles and ebooks focused on the intersection of business strategy and voice technology. Late last year, he and his wife Susan released Voice Strategy: Creating Useful and Usable Voice Experiences . Westwater has presented talks and workshops at a number of events, including VOICE Summit 2019 and Project Voice 2020. He also is a co-founder of Voice Masters and an ambassador for the Open Voice Network .

Ron Schmelzer is principal analyst, managing partner, and founder of the AI-focused analyst and advisory firm Cognilytica . He is also the co-host of the AI Today podcast , SXSW Innovation Awards Judge, founder and operator of TechBreakfast demo format events, and an expert in AI, machine learning, enterprise architecture, venture capital, startup and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and more. Prior to founding Cognilytica, Schmelzer founded and ran ZapThink, an industry analyst firm focused on service-oriented architecture (SOA), cloud computing, web services, XML, and enterprise architecture, which was acquired by Dovel Technologies in August 2011.

Kathleen Walch is a serial entrepreneur, savvy marketer, AI and machine learning expert, and tech industry connector. She is a principal analyst, managing partner, and founder of Cognilytica , an AI research and advisory firm, and co-host of the popular AI Today podcast . As a master facilitator and connector, who is well connected in the technology industry, Walch regularly meets with innovators in key markets and gets the opportunity to see the latest and newest technologies from game-changing companies. Walch is a regular contributor to both Forbes and TechTarget where she covers topics related to AI, machine learning, data science, and best practice AI methodologies.

Jeff Coyle is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer for MarketMuse. With more than 21 years of experience, Coyle focuses on helping content marketers, search engine marketers, agencies, and e-commerce managers build topical authority, improve content quality and turn semantic research into actionable insights.

Lisa Spira is a linguist who has focused her career on leading the design of language-based digital products. Her professional passions live at the point where language, technology, and humans intersect. As Head of Content Intelligence at Persado, Spira leads the team responsible for the language innovation and insights within the platform.

Mike Kaput is the Chief Content Officer at Marketing AI Institute. Kaput uses content marketing, marketing strategy, and marketing technology to grow and scale traffic, leads, and revenue for Marketing AI Institute. An avid writer, Kaput has published hundreds of articles on how to use AI in marketing to increase revenue and reduce costs.

Dr. Gemma Galdón Clavell is a leading voice on technology ethics and algorithmic accountability. She is the founder and CEO of Eticas Consulting, where she is responsible for leading the management, strategic direction, and execution of the Eticas vision. Her multidisciplinary background in the social, ethical, and legal impact of data-intensive technology allows her and her team to design and implement practical solutions to data protection, ethics, explainability, and bias challenges in AI. She has conceived and architected the Algorithmic Audit Framework which now serves as the foundation for Eticas flagship product, the Algorithmic Audit.

Atalia Horenshtien is a Customer Facing Data Scientist and Evangelist at DataRobot. In her role, Horenshtien serves as a trusted advisor on AI for various customers. She enables customers to solve complex data science problems and adopt AI/ML across the organization using the DataRobot platform.

Domhnaill Hernon is an award-winning technology, innovation and creativity executive. Hernon received an undergrad in Aeronautical Engineering and a PhD in Aerodynamics from the University of Limerick and an executive MBA from Dublin City University, Ireland. He is the global lead and co-founder of a new imitative at EY to create the Cognitive Human Enterprise. Hernon’s work has been featured in Wired Magazine, Times Square, SXSW, Nasdaq, MWC, Ars Electronica, TEDx, and Inspirefest to name just a few, and he advises innovation and cultural programs globally.