This week’s VeeCon, the annual conference by entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, has made headlines with its expanded focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality. Last year, the conference centered on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and Web3, however, recent market trends and Vaynerchuk’s increased enthusiasm for AI have led to a broader agenda that includes AI’s impact on businesses and creators.
While the conference still features familiar speakers, including celebrities and NFT artists, the scope of panel discussions has shifted to encompass topics such as sports partnerships, the connection between business and culture, and the exciting developments in AI. Vaynerchuk revealed that if the same approach was applied to this year’s VeeCon as last year’s, about 80% of the panels would have been dedicated to AI.
Vaynerchuk’s Vayner3 consultancy has evolved in a similar fashion, extending its services to help brands harness AI and other emerging technologies like augmented reality. He is eager to see how AI can streamline everyday tasks, allowing people to devote their time to more innovative pursuits. Moreover, Vaynerchuk believes that embracing AI will be “profoundly good” for people, as it can save significant time spent on intricate tasks, like designing in Photoshop.
Despite the shift in focus, Vaynerchuk remains optimistic about the future of NFTs and maintains that a sustainable market will emerge. While acknowledging his previous prediction that 99% of NFTs would eventually become worthless, he also noted that the same is true for most items in markets like art and sports cards. Vaynerchuk’s excitement lies in identifying and investing in the valuable 1% of NFTs that will withstand the test of time.
In summary, VeeCon’s expanded focus highlights the growing importance of AI and other innovative technologies in the world of business and entrepreneurship. While the future of NFTs remains uncertain, their role in the conference has reduced, shining a spotlight on the potential of AI to revolutionize industries and daily life. The inclusion of AI in the conference agenda demonstrates its potential to become a dominant force in the market, even as the role of NFTs in the broader technological landscape continues to shift.
Source: Decrypt
