Today's forward-looking business leaders recognize the critical role AI will continue to play in their organizations; it's no longer an if but a when and how. The 1682 Business of Innovation Conference brings together senior executives to explore approaches to best define success, measure impact, and scale solutions beyond abstract AI concepts. In its fourth year, this intimate, highly curated event will take place at the world-renowned Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The conference is presented by O3, a digital product consultancy, and O3XO, an AI strategy and activation consultancy, along with presenting sponsor Guru, the AI-powered enterprise knowledge platform.
Throughout the day, expert speakers will share first-hand insights and participate in discussions centered on the real-world use of AI, digging into the practicalities of what works, what doesn't, and why, with a keen eye on how AI is influencing profit and process. Session topics will include adoption and execution challenges, as well as key decisions that turn experiments into real business value. A key element of the day is its intimacy and the 140 theater capacity limit. The conference gathers senior executives who are just as capable and impressive as those speaking on stage, making the connections and conversations unique.
Recognized by TIME as one of the Most Influential People in AI and among the TIME100 Creators, Ethan Mollick is a Wharton professor and co-director of the school's Generative AI Labs, a renowned epicenter for AI research, education, and application. In advance of the October 20 release of his new book Co-Existence, Mollick will share with the audience his latest insights on the capabilities and effects of AI as relevant to today's businesses.
Attendees can also get hands-on with Lovable through an interactive lobby experience built around vibe coding, building and experimenting to see in real time how AI is making software creation more accessible for everyone. Beyond this, the overall experience includes curated networking over breakfast and lunch, a premium chocolatier station from Eclat, private access to the Barnes collection, and an evening cocktail reception on the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Terrace.
Speakers include:
Tickets are now available here.
"Business leaders are bombarded with new AI tools and platforms every day. 1682 is built to rise above that and give people real, practical insight into how to strategize around AI, implement it, and actually see impact from it," said Keith Scandone. "Since we started 1682 in 2019, we've seen the value of bringing leaders together who want to learn from each other and figure out how to put innovation to work. There's no better place to do that than Philadelphia, where 250 years ago, bold thinking helped found our nation."
Last year's sold out event drew 140 attendees that included business, technology, marketing, product, AI and innovation leaders across 15 industries representing brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, IBX, Hershey's, Google, Comcast, and JP Morgan.
1682 provides an ideal opportunity for brands to connect with a curated audience of decision-makers through a variety of sponsorship options. Previous sponsors have included JP Morgan, IBX, Pennovation Works, Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Pennovation. Learn more about sponsorship tiers here.
"Every day at Guru, we work with clients to establish the AI source of truth that connects all of a company's knowledge into a single intelligence layer, creating a value and efficiency our clients didn't know they could achieve," said Rick Nucci. "As a sponsor of 1682, we've been able to get in front of the decision makers who are gathered specifically to deepen their understanding of AI and how it can benefit their business. The conference has been a tremendous driver of new connections and clients for Guru."
As a way to give back to the Philadelphia community and shine a spotlight on the startup ecosystem, the Conference also features the Venture Awards. Applications are now open for the 2026 Venture Awards, offering $5,000, a one-year co-working membership at Pennovation Works, and 20 hours of strategic go-to-market advice from the O3 team. Deadline to submit is September 18 and the top three finalists will present during 1682. Former winners include Strella Biotechnology, Scout Robotics and AgriGates.
This year's Venture Awards judging panel includes representatives from Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Rittenhouse Ventures, and Pennovation Works.
Event details
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 8am - 7pm
Place: Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tickets: Available here
Sponsorship information: Available here
The 1682 Advisory Committee Members have been instrumental in the history and success of the conference and the creation of this year's format and speaker lineup:
About O3
O3 is a digital product consultancy with 21 years of experience helping enterprise organizations design, build, and scale their digital ecosystems. From strategy to AI-led design and engineering, O3 partners with clients for the long term, building systems that hold up as their businesses grow.
About O3XO
O3XO is O3's AI strategy and activation consultancy, helping organizations move beyond AI experimentation into real, measurable adoption. O3XO works directly alongside client teams to identify where AI can create the most impact, then builds and deploys the systems that make it real.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Philadelphia Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.