From Columbus with Code: What AI Means for the Rest of Us

Last week, I had the chance to attend the 2025 Ohio Tech Summit, hosted at the iconic Ohio Union on the campus of Ohio State University—and let me tell you, the energy was off the charts. It wasn’t just another conference; it was a glimpse into the future of business, IT, and what it means to stay competitive in a world where AI is no longer a buzzword—it’s a baseline.

I’ve been to this event in years past, but the growth and momentum this year were on a different level. It’s clear: Ohio is becoming a major hub for tech leadership, and the summit reflected that with a packed house and a who’s who of innovators, business leaders, and problem-solvers.

Networking with Purpose

One of the best parts of events like this is the quality of the people you meet. I ran into my friend Christian Sommer from VectorOne, and we found a spot before the opening remarks to catch up. Conversations flowed easily—whether you were talking shop, trading cybersecurity horror stories, or digging into the finer points of digital transformation, the summit created the perfect atmosphere to connect and collaborate.

AI: The Thread Running Through It All

If there was one unifying theme this year, it was artificial intelligence. Every keynote, breakout, and panel circled back to AI—how it’s being implemented, what it means for the workforce, and the ethical and operational challenges it brings.

Brad Reynolds, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Expedient, laid out a compelling roadmap for integrating AI into real-world business operations. His talk hit home for me. At Sequentur, we’re always looking for smarter ways to protect and empower our clients, and the idea of adding AI-driven solutions to our suite of services—especially in areas like cybersecurity and compliance—isn’t just interesting. It’s necessary.

On the educational side, Ohio State’s President, Ted Carter Jr., brought a refreshing, no-nonsense perspective. His take? It’s not just about adopting AI—it’s about preparing the next generation to work with it. That resonated. Because let’s face it: organizations that know how to communicate with and harness AI will be the ones that thrive. The rest? They’ll be playing catch-up.

Not Replacing People—Empowering Them

One of the biggest takeaways from the day was this: AI isn’t coming to take jobs. It’s coming to divide the workforce between those who can use it—and those who can’t. The ability to leverage AI as a tool will soon be as essential as email or Excel. That’s a reality businesses of all sizes need to prepare for, and it’s where IT partners like Sequentur come in.

We’re already thinking about how to build AI into the frameworks we offer—from smarter help desk operations and predictive cybersecurity, to cloud strategy and training programs for our clients’ teams. Our job is to make sure you’re not only ready for what’s next—but ahead of it.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Ohio Tech Summit delivered on every level: innovation, insight, and inspiration. It reaffirmed something we say all the time at Sequentur—technology should never be about the tech itself. It’s about people, outcomes, and making businesses better.

Whether you’re a five-person firm in Columbus or a multi-site enterprise looking to scale securely, our team is here to help you get ahead of the curve—and stay there.

Let’s talk. Where does AI fit into your IT strategy?