The 'AI Friendly' Summit

The AI Friendly Summit takes over The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City on Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, with two full days of practical AI learning in Uptown Charlotte. It's presented by AI Friendly (by Kynex), in association with the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, and it's built around four distinct tracks: AI for Career Growth, AI for Small Business Growth, AI for Enterprise Growth, and an AI Hands-on Workshop. The sessions, breakouts, and exhibits are spread across the second, third, and eleventh floors of the center, so you'll be moving between levels over the course of the two days.

This isn't a summit for sitting back and watching. It's a device-driven experience, and you're asked to bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone signed in to an AI account—ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or Gemini—so you can follow along in the classes. The focus is on live demonstrations, workshops, and conversations with people who are already using AI in their careers and businesses. It's aimed at professionals, small business owners, founders, and enterprise teams, and both beginners and experienced AI users are welcome.

If you're coming from out of town, there's an 'AI concierge' on hand to help you figure out how to get to Charlotte. The venue is at 320 East 9th Street, and the Lynx Blue Line 9th Street Station is about half a block away. Parking is separate from admission: there's a general lot at 422 E. 9th Street, reserved VIP parking at the Co-Lab lot, and accessible parking at 625 N. Brevard. Catered food is for VIP attendees only; everyone else gets a one-hour break to eat nearby, with the 7th Street Public Market across First Ward Park as a recommended spot.

Both days run from 8 AM to 5 PM, with doors opening at 7:30 AM. General admission is $99 through October 31, 2026, then it goes up to $149, and ticketing fees may apply.