AI & Data Summit Chicago
Unlocking the Power of Data and AI
September 17, 2026 | Convene 311 West Monroe
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.
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 US’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 redefining technology, leadership, and innovation across the region.
IDC Keynote: Agentic AI at Scale: Accelerating Innovation While Managing Risk
Agentic AI is unlocking new levels of enterprise innovation by enabling autonomous decision-making and adaptive workflows at scale. Balancing this potential with robust risk management is essential for ensuring trust, compliance, and sustainable value as organizations operationalize agentic systems across critical functions.
Matthew Eastwood | IDC
Senior Vice President, World Wide -Research
Matthew Eastwood
Matthew 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 10:10 am
IDC Keynote: Agentic AI at Scale: Accelerating Innovation While Managing Risk
Agentic AI is unlocking new levels of enterprise innovation by enabling autonomous decision-making and adaptive workflows at scale. Balancing this potential with robust risk management is essential for ensuring trust, compliance, and sustainable value as organizations operationalize agentic systems across critical functions.
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.
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.
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
Join Us!
Don’t miss the AI & Data Summit 2026 Chicago—Building Intelligence that Creates Real Value.