While marquee events like NeurIPS and AI Summit draw thousands to explore AI breakthroughs, smaller local conferences offer unique advantages worth nurturing. They strengthen community bonds, boost accessibility, and tackle region-specific needs in ways larger gatherings often can’t.

Local events are far more accessible, cutting out hefty travel and registration costs that exclude students, early-career researchers, and others. A Mid-West developer or East Coast researcher can attend nearby, tapping into ideas and networks otherwise out of reach. Smaller venues also enable real engagement—hundreds, not thousands, of attendees mean deeper interactions, probing questions, and lasting connections through collaborative workshops and panels.

Finally, these conferences zoom in on local challenges, like rural healthcare or urban automation, fostering practical, tailored solutions. By supporting smaller AI events, we cultivate inclusive, connected communities that amplify AI’s impact from the ground up.