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University of Nebraska Omahas AI Conference Draws Record Attendance, Highlights Community Interest in AI Adoption
The University of Nebraska Omaha’s second‑annual artificial‑intelligence conference sold out for the second year running, bringing 400 attendees from local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies into the campus halls last week.
The event began as a pilot last year, designed simply to gauge how ready Omaha’s community was to learn about AI. “We had no expectations at the time. We just wanted to test how the community is ready to kind of learn with us in AI adaptation,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li.
That cautious approach paid off. Attendance rose from 300 in the inaugural conference to 400 this year—a 33‑percent jump that the university cites as evidence of growing local interest. Li noted the diversity of the crowd, which included entrepreneurs, nonprofits, tech startups, the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), and educators.
Among the participants was Tilden Bardsley, a tax manager at Hancock Dana, CPA. Bardsley’s firm set up an AI committee last year and is already reassessing how staff allocate their time. “We’re going from really ticking and tying things out, looking at more work papers and the tax return, to maybe looking at more like tax planning and more opportunities,” he said.
He explained that the shift to AI could move compliance work to technology, freeing staff to focus on client‑facing roles. “I think we’ll be able to be out in the community more and like to work with, you know, taxpayers. And try to have really good tax planning and tax strategy,” Bardsley added.
The conference also highlighted concerns about the pace of AI adoption. Hannah Winchester, a librarian at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), stressed the need to teach people how to use AI responsibly. “Teaching people how to use it effectively, and not to replace their output of work,” Winchester said.
Torian Richardson, a board director at DBR77 who works in industrial intelligence, echoed that sentiment. “It feels like we’re moving faster than the speed of light, and that’s what a lot of people, as I said before, and organizations are actually feeling,” he said.
Chancellor Li acknowledged that AI will displace some jobs but emphasized that humans who adapt will not be replaced. “I think AI will definitely displace some jobs and some portion of our job. So, as humans we need to catch up and understand the technology. AI will not replace humans that actually adapt using AI,” she said.
She also expressed confidence that Omaha is positioned to lead in AI adoption. “I think Omaha can lead, and people are ready — they want to find out more,” Li said.
The conference’s success reflects a broader trend of local universities partnering with community stakeholders to accelerate AI literacy. Founded in 1908, UNO has expanded its academic offerings in engineering, information technology, and business, and has a long history of engaging with the Omaha metropolitan area.
While the event did not announce new AI products or research breakthroughs, it served as a platform for local organizations to discuss how AI can be integrated into their operations. The presence of a tax firm, a medical library, and an industrial intelligence company illustrates the cross‑sector relevance of AI.
UNO’s initiative aligns with national efforts to promote responsible AI use and to address workforce impacts. By bringing together practitioners, educators, and policymakers, the conference aims to create a shared understanding of AI’s benefits and challenges.
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration. UNO plans to host the conference again next year, with the goal of expanding the audience and deepening discussions on AI ethics, governance, and practical implementation.
As AI continues to evolve, the University of Nebraska Omaha’s conference demonstrates that community‑level engagement can help local businesses, nonprofits, and public institutions navigate the opportunities and risks of AI adoption.
The event began as a pilot last year, designed simply to gauge how ready Omaha’s community was to learn about AI. “We had no expectations at the time. We just wanted to test how the community is ready to kind of learn with us in AI adaptation,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li.
That cautious approach paid off. Attendance rose from 300 in the inaugural conference to 400 this year—a 33‑percent jump that the university cites as evidence of growing local interest. Li noted the diversity of the crowd, which included entrepreneurs, nonprofits, tech startups, the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), and educators.
Among the participants was Tilden Bardsley, a tax manager at Hancock Dana, CPA. Bardsley’s firm set up an AI committee last year and is already reassessing how staff allocate their time. “We’re going from really ticking and tying things out, looking at more work papers and the tax return, to maybe looking at more like tax planning and more opportunities,” he said.
He explained that the shift to AI could move compliance work to technology, freeing staff to focus on client‑facing roles. “I think we’ll be able to be out in the community more and like to work with, you know, taxpayers. And try to have really good tax planning and tax strategy,” Bardsley added.
The conference also highlighted concerns about the pace of AI adoption. Hannah Winchester, a librarian at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), stressed the need to teach people how to use AI responsibly. “Teaching people how to use it effectively, and not to replace their output of work,” Winchester said.
Torian Richardson, a board director at DBR77 who works in industrial intelligence, echoed that sentiment. “It feels like we’re moving faster than the speed of light, and that’s what a lot of people, as I said before, and organizations are actually feeling,” he said.
Chancellor Li acknowledged that AI will displace some jobs but emphasized that humans who adapt will not be replaced. “I think AI will definitely displace some jobs and some portion of our job. So, as humans we need to catch up and understand the technology. AI will not replace humans that actually adapt using AI,” she said.
She also expressed confidence that Omaha is positioned to lead in AI adoption. “I think Omaha can lead, and people are ready — they want to find out more,” Li said.
The conference’s success reflects a broader trend of local universities partnering with community stakeholders to accelerate AI literacy. Founded in 1908, UNO has expanded its academic offerings in engineering, information technology, and business, and has a long history of engaging with the Omaha metropolitan area.
While the event did not announce new AI products or research breakthroughs, it served as a platform for local organizations to discuss how AI can be integrated into their operations. The presence of a tax firm, a medical library, and an industrial intelligence company illustrates the cross‑sector relevance of AI.
UNO’s initiative aligns with national efforts to promote responsible AI use and to address workforce impacts. By bringing together practitioners, educators, and policymakers, the conference aims to create a shared understanding of AI’s benefits and challenges.
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration. UNO plans to host the conference again next year, with the goal of expanding the audience and deepening discussions on AI ethics, governance, and practical implementation.
As AI continues to evolve, the University of Nebraska Omaha’s conference demonstrates that community‑level engagement can help local businesses, nonprofits, and public institutions navigate the opportunities and risks of AI adoption.
