Beyond the Hype: How to Use AI to Gather the Data You Need, Equip Your Brand Engine, and Increase Visibility

Description

In an era of rapid technological shifts, AI has emerged not as a replacement for human creativity, but as its most powerful fuel. Join us on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., for a hybrid session led by John Fuller, founder of Phoenixfire Design & Consulting, as he cuts through the "AI hype" to provide a pragmatic, business-first look so you can integrate innovation into your existing business architecture:

Event Agenda:

With nearly two decades of experience helping businesses solve complex problems through design and innovation, John frames AI as a force multiplier within a larger strategic toolkit. This isn't about technology for technology’s sake; it’s about how Charlotte businesses can integrate AI into their research, branding, and marketing automation to drive better outcomes. Whether you are curious about AI-assisted SEO or building custom "Gems" for internal collateral, this session provides the insight:

• AI as a Force Multiplier for Creative Problem Solving: We’ll move past the "chatbot" and look at how AI fits into the Design & Innovation Sprint process. Learn how to use tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to handle the heavy lifting of research and data synthesis, allowing your team to focus on high-level strategy and creative execution.
• The Content & Brand Engine: Scaling Quality: Discover how to use Generative AI (Midjourney v8 and Gemini) to create high-quality collateral and consistent brand assets at speed. We’ll discuss how Phoenixfire integrates these tools internally to streamline campaigns and how small businesses can do the same to maintain a "Big Brand" presence without the enterprise overhead.
• Ethics, Privacy, and Human in the loop John will share lessons on longevity and the importance of ethics in tech. We’ll cover critical considerations like data privacy and the "Environmental Standard," choosing efficient models (like Gemini 3.1 Flash) to ensure your AI implementation is both responsible and sustainable.
• And more!

Event Information

This event will be both in-person and on Zoom. If joining via Zoom, a link will be sent after registration.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Alchemy CoWorking
2459 Wilkinson Boulevard
Charlotte NC, 28208

Parking Information: Free parking in the parking lot. Park in the back of the building for the main entrance and take the elevator to the 3rd floor.

Speaker

John Fuller

Creative Director and Design Strategy | Phoenixfire Design & Consulting

John Fuller is the founder of Phoenixfire Design & Consulting, a design & innovation firm that has spent the last 17 years—celebrating its anniversary this April 2nd—acting as a "creative problem-solving" extension of its clients' teams. At Phoenixfire, John integrates AI as a strategic tool in service of broader goals—from branding and graphic design to complex marketing automation and innovation sprints. His ability to translate high-level tech into actionable business outcomes, John is a fixture in the Charlotte networking scene, where he focuses on building long-term relationships and sustainable growth strategies for the Queen City’s business community. During the event, he will share strategies with businesses on how they can utilize generative AI ethically and effectively.