About the conference
Great Lakes AI Week is a regional artificial intelligence conference produced by the Enterprise Technology Association. It brings AI leaders from Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Pittsburgh and other cities to Northwest Ohio.
The program includes keynote speakers, fireside chats, panels, workshops, breakout sessions and networking. Organizers expect more than 70 speakers. An expo features AI vendors, startups and technology partners.
Before you go
- Parking
- Free on both campuses. Detailed parking instructions will be sent before the event.
- Arrival
- Arrive early to allow time for parking and check-in.
- What to wear
- Business casual. November weather in Northwest Ohio can change quickly, so bring layers.
Schedule
Day one
Tuesday, November 10
Bowling Green State University
- 9–11:30 a.m.Keynotes and fireside chats
- 1–4 p.m.Panels, breakout sessions and workshops
Day two
Thursday, November 12
University of Toledo
- 8–9:30 a.m.Women in AI and Business Breakfast
- 9:30–11:30 a.m.Keynotes and fireside chats
- 1–3:30 p.m.Panels, breakout sessions and workshops
Times are from the conference agenda as of October 12, 2026. The full agenda with speakers and session titles has not been published yet; check the Great Lakes AI Week agenda for updates.
Get your free student ticket
- Cost
- Free. No promo code is needed.
- Eligibility
- BGSU students. Student status is verified with your BGSU student email.
- Days
- Each student ticket covers one day: Tuesday, Nov. 10 at BGSU or Thursday, Nov. 12 at the University of Toledo. To attend both days, select both tickets.
- Lunch
- Not included with student tickets.
How to register
- Open the Great Lakes AI Week registration form.
- Select the UT and BGSU Student Ticket for Tuesday, Thursday, or both.
- Register with your BGSU student email.
Scan to register
Opens the registration form on your phone
Meet employers
Many companies will take part in the conference, from major technology companies such as Tesla, NVIDIA, Google, Anthropic and Microsoft to regional IT companies. The conference is an opportunity to meet their representatives and learn how they use AI.
Details about a talent fair and experiential learning opportunities are still being finalized and will be shared when available.
Volunteer at the conference
Volunteers help run the conference. They check in attendees, keep sessions on time, guide people between rooms and buildings, support sponsors and speakers, and help with lunch service.
Volunteering supports BGSU and the regional community, and it is a good way to meet professionals who work with AI.
Student volunteers did excellent work at last year's conference. At least one BGSU student volunteer was later hired by a participating employer after meeting them through the conference.
How volunteering works
- Complete the Great Lakes AI Week volunteer form.
- Attend one orientation and training call. The calls cover the volunteer roles and how the conference days run.
- Read the volunteer guide. Volunteers receive a full guide with role descriptions and shift details. Setup and teardown times are being finalized with the universities and will be included in the guide.
Orientation and training calls
Four calls are scheduled. You only need to attend one. Times are Eastern.
- Tuesday, Oct. 2712:00 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 303:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 312:00 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 63:00 p.m.
Volunteer roles
| Role | Responsibilities | Timing and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Hand out badges, answer common questions, and direct attendees to the venue map. | Busiest from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Male volunteers are asked to cover registration during the Women in AI and Business Breakfast (Thursday, 8–9:30 a.m.). |
| Stage Manager | Keep sessions on schedule: find speakers 15 minutes before their session, give time cues (3, 2 and 1 minutes), and signal the AV team. | Covers all stages. Up to two volunteers per stage: one keeps time from the audience and one greets speakers. |
| Wayfinding / Floater | Guide attendees between venues and cover needs as they come up. | Flexible. |
| Vendor Support | Greet sponsors, escort them to their tables, and alert venue staff to power or Wi-Fi issues. | 8 to 10 a.m. on conference days. |
| Lunch Crew | Set out plates and cutlery, monitor and refill the buffet, and keep the area tidy. | 30 minutes before and after lunch. Tasks vary by location. |
| Venue Lead | Know the building well and serve as the first point of contact for staff and speakers. | Needed only when there are multiple venues. |
| Volunteer Coordinator | Check the sign-up sheet, fill open shifts, and post updates in the volunteer WhatsApp group. | Varies by location. May be requested of standout volunteers on the day of the event for a specific area. |
Sign up to volunteer
Complete the volunteer form, then attend one of the orientation and training calls listed above. Role and shift details follow in the volunteer guide.
Scan to volunteer
Opens the volunteer form on your phone