EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University’s Center for Digital Engagement will host its 13th annual Digital Marketing Workshop with the theme, “The Age of AI.” The event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2023. Tickets are on sale at the conference website and discounted to $30 before October 31.

AI or artificial intelligence can take visual and free-form verbal input and produce sophisticated responses in the form of written documents, images, and even videos that, on the surface, seem to rival what a human can produce. “Our conference will provide real-world examples of the types of things that are and are not possible with the current state of AI,” said Bud Gibson, professor of integrated marketing communications and creator of the conference series. “The bottom line is that you can’t just let AI loose on content creation and expect good results. But with practice, AI can dramatically speed up your workflows and make your marketing more effective.”

Keynoting the event is EMU alum Chris Prucha, founder of Origin, a 3D printer company sold for $100 million in late 2020, and co-founder of Notion, a productivity application recently valued at $10 billion. “Our keynote will chronicle how Chris built Origin into a brand that he could sell for $100 million,” said Gibson. “Chris is currently an AI investor, and he will conclude by giving us an overview of where he thinks AI is headed.”

After Chris Prucha’s keynote, the conference will proceed to two panel discussions. The first, Growth Marketing with AI, will highlight ways that both large and small companies are using AI to enhance their marketing and sales processes. The second, Content Creation with AI, will highlight the opportunities and challenges of using AI in your content creation workflow. The conference will conclude with a lunch panel summarizing takeaways from the day. In addition to Chris Prucha, the conference will feature speakers such as Bilal Saeed, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for the Detroit Pistons, Nick Woods, account strategist for Google, and Ryan Redoute, “That Michigan Guy” on social media platforms as well as noted local marketers. 

Tickets are on sale now through November 17 with a discounted price of $30 for the general public before October 31. To register, click here.

If you have further questions regarding this event, contact Gibson at fgibson@emich.edu. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.