The last day of any big conference. I’m always a little sad to see things ending. Crowds thinning. Exhibitors breaking down booths. People with roller bags stacked in session rooms. A closing reception that somehow lacks the excitement of the opening one.

On days like this, I always think back to the opening day. The energy and excitement of not knowing what exactly would happen. The expectation of seeing old friends, learning new things. I can’t help thinking I wish it was just beginning instead of ending.

But last days of conferences are also a good time to reflect on the conference and what stood out. The most memorable takeaways.  ILTACON 2026 was, by any and all estimations, a record-setting event. Which is not surprising since everyone is riding the AI tsunami. A tsunami which may be at its peak right now. 

And while there are lots of things to talk about when it came to this year’s conference, five things stood out to me as the most meaningful. Here they are: