AI & Data Summit Chicago
Unlocking the Power of Data and AI
Overview
The IDC AI and Data Summit is the premier event for senior technology and business executives driving artificial intelligence and data strategies across the region. Designed for CDOs, Heads of Data, and AI and innovation leaders, this full-day event delivers high-impact insights and actionable strategies focused on organizations’ top priorities: scaling AI adoption, ensuring data quality and governance, and navigating complex digital regulation and readiness.
As organizations accelerate investment in AI and data-driven transformation, many face a readiness gap: while 89% have revamped their data strategies to support Generative AI, only 26% have deployed these solutions at scale, and a mere 12% feel their infrastructure is ready for autonomous AI workflows. Further, the growth of unstructured data (projected at ~22% CAGR) underscores that quality and context a cross all data types is now mission critical.
These challenges demand that leaders transform data into a trusted strategic asset while embedding ethics, transparency, and resilience into AI initiatives.
IDC’s analysts and industry experts will guide you on how to build future-ready data architectures, operationalize AI responsibly, and drive measurable business impact. Through keynote sessions, panels, and collaborative discussions, this event provides Europe’s leaders with the tools and frameworks to transform AI and data into a foundation for innovation, resilience, and growth.
Expert Perspectives
Hear from global thought leaders, visionary CIOs, and celebrity speakers redefining technology, leadership, and innovation across the region.
IDC Keynote: Scaling AI for the Agentic Future: Closing the Enterprise Gaps
Strategies and best practices for scaling AI across the enterprise, bridging the gaps in governance, talent, and technology to unlock the full potential of agentic innovation.
Matt Eastwood | IDC
SVP, World Wide Research
Matt Eastwood
Matt Eastwood is Senior Vice President of IDC’s enterprise infrastructure, cloud, telecom, security, developers, channels and enabling technology research groups. Mr. Eastwood and his team research people, process and technology trends affecting the enterprise technology marketplace worldwide. Mr. Eastwood first joined IDC in 2000 as part of the server team and his responsibilities have evolved and expanded during his tenure. In his current role, he leads a team of more than 100 analysts providing insights and analysis to IT suppliers, buyers, investors, and distributors through more than 75 syndicated research programs. Mr. Eastwood also leads IDC’s BuyerView primary research programs which are focused on defining emerging trends in cloud, developers, service providers, edge, AI and security.
Mr. Eastwood joined IDC in 2000. He provides in-depth market analysis, research, and consulting on all aspects of the enterprise infrastructure marketplace to IT professionals, investors, resellers and technology suppliers. During his tenure at IDC, Mr. Eastwood has led IDC primary research focused on emerging trends in enterprise systems and data centers. This primary research allows IDC to make continuous assessments regarding how customers are deploying and using enterprise infrastructure power digital transformation. Recent topics covered in Mr. Eastwood’s research include: Software Defined Infrastructure, Integrated infrastructure, Convergence, Disaggregated Infrastructure, Virtualization & Automation, Cloud Computing, High Availability, Platform Migration and Datacenter Workloads. Mr. Eastwood also serves as IDC’s lead analyst covering Dell and VMware.
Prior to joining IDC, Mr. Eastwood worked for twelve years as a senior project manager and environmental consultant at CDM Smith in Boston. Mr. Eastwood was responsible for managing the planning and design of large environmental infrastructure projects including wastewater collection and treatment facilities. In addition, Mr. Eastwood served as Operations Manager of the firm’s New England practice.
Mr. Eastwood received a bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston and earned his MS in Engineering Project Management from WPI in Worcester, MA. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Massachusetts.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:15 am
IDC Keynote: Scaling AI for the Agentic Future: Closing the Enterprise Gaps
Strategies and best practices for scaling AI across the enterprise, bridging the gaps in governance, talent, and technology to unlock the full potential of agentic innovation.
As organizations accelerate investment in AI and data-driven transformation, many face a readiness gap: while 89% have revamped their data strategies to support Generative AI, only 26% have deployed these solutions at scale, and a mere 12% feel their infrastructure is ready for autonomous AI workflows. Further, the growth of unstructured data (projected at ~22% CAGR) underscores that quality and context across all data types is now mission critical.
These challenges demand that leaders transform data into a trusted strategic asset while embedding ethics, transparency, and resilience into AI initiatives.
2026 Prediction
By 2027, organizations that adopt tools and processes for AI evaluation and monitoring will have the confidence to deploy AI applications twice as fast as those that don’t.
Our Partners
Strategy
We provide cloud-native, AI-powered enterprise analytics software to thousands of global customers, and leverage 35+ years of software expertise to explore innovation in Bitcoin applications. We believe the combination of our operating structure, Bitcoin strategy, and focus on technology innovation provides a unique opportunity for value creation.
We rebranded from MicroStrategy to Strategy in February 2025.
Syncari
Syncari Agentic MDM™ is a unified, multi-domain master data platform that eliminates data drift across systems, domains, and architectures in real time. Powered by patented multi-directional sync, Syncari writes trusted data back to source systems as it changes, unifying master and transactional data enterprise-wide for operations, governance, and AI. With low-code deployment and fast time to value, Syncari delivers a consistent, governed foundation for automation and AI initiatives built on trusted 360° data.
HPE
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open, and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com.
Boomi
Boomi, the data activation company, brings data to life by integrating and governing it to power everything from AI to BI. The Boomi Enterprise Platform puts data in motion, uniting data readiness, integration and automation, and agent management in one comprehensive solution. Trusted by more than 30,000 customers and supported by a global network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation — helping organizations of all sizes move faster, operate smarter, and innovate at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.
SAP
As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience.
BlueCat Networks
We’re helping organizations build the Intelligent Network of the Future!
The outside world is changing, fast: more users, devices, and regions; soaring customer expectations; exploding cloud complexity; and rapidly evolving threats.
But your network is standing still. The core services connecting data centers, cloud, and branch networks make that change feel painful—manual, error-prone, high-risk, and hard to fix.
The faster you can adapt core services to meet new requirements, the faster your business can accelerate.
BlueCat provides a unified Intelligent NetOps suite making discovery, provisioning, intelligence, observability, automation and security easier, faster, and more thorough, streamlining complexity for a resilient, performant network that gets ahead of change.
BlueCat is known for helping organizations unify their DNS, DHCP, and IP address management (DDI) for unparalleled visibility and control.
Enterprise use of AI is undergoing a rapid shift, marked not only by significant advances in generative, agentic, and composite AI technologies but also by a recalibration of how enterprises are approaching AI technology implementation for business value.
Sovereignty and control over AI infrastructure are becoming strategic priorities, especially in response to geopolitical and regulatory pressures. The rise of AI factories and AI-native businesses signals a future where automation, agility, and data-driven decision-making redefine operational efficiency and competitive advantage.
Venue
Address: 311 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606
Convene 311 W Monroe
Located in The Loop neighborhood of downtown Chicago, Convene 311 W Monroe offers six meeting rooms across 24,000 square-feet.
The design of this destination pays homage to the city’s rich industrial and musical history by interweaving modernist architecture with an interior design reminiscent of Chicago’s underground jazz scene. The space exhibits warm hues through ambient lighting with rich pops of color and intricate detailing throughout. Convene 311 W Monroe provides a white box space allowing for client and event branding opportunities, in-house catering with customization options and dining private to each event, in-room A/V technology supported by an on-site team, and dedicated hospitality resources.
Convene 311 W Monroe is located between South Wacker Drive and South Franklin Street in the Loop near Washington/Wells Station and Quincy Station.
Nearby Parking
One Parking 227 W Monroe Street
Public Parking 111 S Wacker Drive
183 Monroe Garage 183 W Monroe Street
Nearby Bus Stations
Wells & Monroe- 37 Wacker & Adams- 131 Madison & Franklin- 20, 56, 60, 124, 157
Nearby subway lines:
Washington/Wells Station
Quincy Station
Knowledge Hub
FutureScape 2026: Unlocking innovation beyond productivity
Agentic AI is redefining value creation beyond efficiency, reshaping business models, industry boundaries, and competitive advantage.
AI-mediated buying journeys: How buyers decide who’s worth their time
As AI agents reshape B2B discovery, buyers filter vendors by proof, fit, and trust. Learn what signals actually move deals forward in AI-mediated journeys
Agentic AI is critical infrastructure
Agentic AI is becoming critical infrastructure. Learn why delegating authority to AI systems changes enterprise risk and what CIOs and CISOs must govern.
Join Us!
Don’t miss the AI & Data Summit 2026 Chicago—Building Intelligence that Creates Real Value.