Wisdom Unplugged USA 2025: Managing AI as an Asset

About this event

NEWS: We’re thrilled to announce that Ahmed Elsamadisi (a ‘Forbes 30 under 30’) will be our Keynote Speaker!

Join your ITAM peers for a one-day deep dive into how to manage AI as an IT asset. Learn how to navigate emerging AI regulations, harness data-driven insights, and align ITAM to key business priorities – all to position ITAM as a strategic force that helps to spark business innovation and drive measurable results.

Make ITAM central to your organization’s AI journey. If you’re committed to ensuring your organization’s AI investments deliver sustained value—while mitigating risk and maintaining integrity—this event will equip you with the insights, strategies, and professional connections you need. Don’t miss the opportunity to reshape ITAM’s role in the age of AI, and gain the tools to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

Your Host: Martin Thompson, Founder of the ITAM Forum

Location: 41 Madison Avenue, New York City (by Union Square)

Register Now

Join your peers from these companies, and more:

Wisdom Unplugged USA 2025, logos of attending companies.

Why you should attend

Turn Compliance into Competitive Edge: Discover how proper governance transforms AI compliance into a platform for secure, responsible, and accelerated innovation.
Make ITAM Matter to the Board: Reframe ITAM as a strategic business partner that can guide intelligent investment in AI, support risk-informed decision-making, and actively shape organisational priorities.
Maximize Your Data’s Value: Learn how to leverage the business intelligence hidden in your IT asset data to enhance decision-making, improve forecasting, and provide real-time insights.
Build Cross-Functional Alliances: Gain practical strategies for collaborating with finance, legal, security, and procurement teams to ensure the seamless integration of AI into the enterprise.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Understand the evolving AI regulatory landscape, anticipate compliance challenges, and prepare your ITAM function to respond with agility, confidence, and foresight.

Why you should attend

Hear from ITAM Review Analyst Kelly Yip about the event and learn why you should attend. Click the video below.

Agenda

Day 1

08:30 - 09:00	Registration
09:00 - 09:45	Open and Welcome - Managing AI as an Asset Martin Thompson
09:45 - 10:30	Keynote: Designing Production AI Agents - A data problem not a model problem Ahmed Elsamadisi This session will address how AI agents are initially defined and why they fail to be consistent and impactful for most companies. We'll breakdown the problem from a design (trying to have 1 model make 20 decisions) and data (giving the system all your data in its raw form and expecting an outcome) perspective. I'll also propose two solutions: design - A MonteCarlo inspired agent design; data - A recommendation on data prep before giving the model your data.
10:30 - 10:45	Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:15	Is Your Data Smart Enough for AI? Elevating Asset Management through Data Excellence Kristy Stroud As AI becomes a buzzword in asset management, the real question is whether your data is prepared to leverage its potential. This session will address the crucial need for high-quality, intelligent data as the foundation for effective AI applications. AI cannot fill data gaps or correct inaccuracies - it merely analyzes what it's given. We'll explore practical steps to enhance data integrity, ensuring AI tools work with reliable, complete, and trustworthy data. By focusing on improving data quality, you'll learn how to make informed decisions and avoid the pitfalls of relying on AI with flawed data. Making your data "smart" is the first step in truly benefiting from AI in asset management.
11:15 - 11:45	The Future of AI in ITAM: Strategies to Maximize Value, Costs, and Compliance Robbie Plourde What is and isn't AI? How can it help resolve some of ITAM's biggest challenges? What are the key considerations to look for when implementing AI into your ITAM activity? This session will answer all of these questions and more!
11:45 - 12:15	First Steps in Managing AI Like an Asset Martin Thompson AI Sprawl, AI Risk Profile, AI Asset Governance, AI Barriers to Adoption, Psychology of AI Integration, and more!
12:15 - 13:00	Join us for lunch and networking
13:00 - 13:30	Workshop: AI Regulation Martin Thompson Where regulation is heading, regulation examples, threats and strategies.
13:30 - 14:00	Why Siloed Management is Costing You Billy Howes If you’re only managing some elements of your organization’s technology environment, you’re missing out on critical optimizations, savings opportunities, and cost avoidances. Join Billy Howes as he dives into the power of a Unified Technology Management approach. He'll discuss: •How are you allowing the evolution of technology to better align with financial expectations? •How do you ensure you’re using the technology you’ve already purchased? •How can IT retain control over the savings generated by effective technology management?
14:00 - 14:30	Smart IT Asset Management: The Intersection of AI and Java Simon Taylor As organizations navigate the complexities of Java licensing and ITAM, artificial intelligence is emerging as a game-changer for several reasons. We'll explore how deeper learning intelligence and AI driven ITAM solutions can optimize Java license compliance, reduce risks, and automate asset management. We’ll also dive into the role of Java itself in AI-powered solutions and the licensing implications, including key solution frameworks and real-world, industry-specific requirements. Discover how AI and Java work together to drive smarter ITAM, ensuring compliance, cost efficiency, and innovation in enterprise environments.
14:30 - 14:45	Coffee Break
14:45 - 15:15	Workshop: AI Innovation in the ITAM Industry (AI for ITAM) Martin Thompson Examples of AI innovation, strengths of humans, strengths of AI. What you’d like to see, how we need to evolve, etc.
15:15 - 16:00	The Future of AI in IT Asset Management (Q&A Panel) Moderator: • Martin Thompson Panel: • Ahmed Elsamadisi • Billy Howes • Robbie Plourde • Kristy Stroud • Simon Taylor
16:00 - 17:00	Networking Reception

Speakers

Ahmed Elsamadisi

Keynote Speaker; Co-founder, Lab42

Ahmed is a seasoned AI architect with a track record of building scalable, data-driven systems. At Cornell in 2012, he developed sensor fusion and machine learning algorithms for self-driving cars, laying groundwork for autonomous navigation. In his 20s at Raytheon, he wrote critical real-time AI algorithms for the Iron Dome, integrating advanced pattern recognition and threat-assessment models to bolster missile defense precision. At WeWork, he engineered data infrastructure with optimized pipelines for real-time analytics. A Y Combinator alum and Forbes 30 Under 30, Ahmed created the Activity Schema, a data model that automates feature extraction, cutting prep time and boosting AI accuracy. Now, as co-founder of Lab42, he drives rapid AI prototyping, delivering fully functional products in three months by leveraging data mastery and seamless integration.
Billy Howes

VP of Solutions Consulting, Calero

Billy has more than 18 years of mobile industry experience. A former Marine Corps Satellite Communications Engineer, Billy is known for his innovation and dedication, bringing valuable solutions to Calero’s customers.
Robbie Plourde

Global Principal Solution Engineer, USU

Robbie has 20+ years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies implementing IT management solutions. He has a passion for helping companies achieve IT and process transformation goals, leveraging skills and knowledge in ITAM, ITIL, EPM, SAP, ERP, CRM, and change management.
Kristy Stroud

ITAM Solutions Architect, SHI International

Kristy has 25+ years of experience in the management of software license contracts for Fortune 500 organizations. She has strong knowledge of complex software licensing and usage models across all hardware platforms and a wealth of experience in solution design, implementation planning, lifecycle management, and operations strategies. Kristy is also an ITAM Forum Trustee.
Simon Taylor

SVP, Channel & Alliance, Azul

Simon’s expertise encompasses SAM, ITAM, machine learning, insight engines, data analytics, and information governance. His strategic focus lies in core go-to-market areas, including application modernization, digital workplace, and transformative AI solutions.
Martin Thompson

Founder, The ITAM Forum

Martin is the founder of the ITAM Forum, a not-for-profit trade body for the advancement of IT Asset Management. He is also the author of, "Practical ITAM - The essential guide for IT Asset Managers". In addition, Martin developed the PITAM training course and certification.