Thursday, 23 October 2025
Somewhere between workshops and panels, a video journalist and a print journalist ended up in the front row with Cow Mad Designs.
Inspiration doesn’t always come from a screen or a slide deck. It comes from each other, and sometimes it comes from standing in a silly pose, laughing at the absurdity.
All the events happened this week. AD:VENTURE’s AI Unlocked delivered on demos, discussions and debates. But what really stayed with me? The people, the personalities, the conversations.
From the moment we arrived at WX in Wakefield, there was a buzz.
We learnt AI is powerful with people, not instead of them. Tools can enhance what we do, but the spark, the empathy, the instinct, that’s ours alone. And that’s the stuff that gives goosebumps.
When was the last time you read copy generated by AI and it gave you goosebumps? Did you feel a shiver?
I recently wrote copy for a client that made them cry (in a good way, I’m told). When words land perfectly, capturing their story, their passion, their way. That’s the magic AI can’t touch.
AI can organise ideas, speed things up, but it can’t feel.
We have a glimpse but no crystal ball. Lots of talk about AI’s potential in boosting productivity, but no one can see the future, not fully, not yet.
AI can help us experiment, explore and expand what’s possible. But deciding what actually matters – for your business, your team, your story – still comes down to your judgement.
People still drive opportunity, and that was apparent at the Huddersfield Unlimited conference at Accu Stadium, where investors, business leaders, and local visionaries gathered to talk regeneration, growth and opportunity.
And just as much fun? SuperConnectors by Greenhouse at The Rose Bowl Knowledge Exchange in Leeds. This well-connected group of West Yorkshire business leaders reminded me how ideas are sparked by conversations.
Networks thrive when people genuinely connect. The laughs, insights and shared experiences can’t be automated.
The takeaway was the same. Tools, technologies, and strategies are important, but it’s the people who spark ideas, build partnerships and make change happen.
Whether AI, investment, or networks, growth is powered by curiosity, collaboration and human insight, not just algorithms or spreadsheets.
As someone who works with words every day, I left AI Unlocked feeling excited, not threatened, by AI. It can save time and help with structure, but the heart of communication will always be with us.
Whether it’s a press release, a brand story or a social post, the spark of connection comes from within. AI is a co-pilot, not the pilot.
People are the ones who make others stop, smile and feel. And that’s why I’ll keep writing, connecting and creating.
Sometimes inspiration comes from standing in a silly pose with good people.