2025 AI Hype vs. Reality in Procurement

About

CPOs, join Light Source CEO Spencer Penn and Procurement Magazine Editor Aaron McMillan for a candid, year-end retrospective on AI's true impact, the promises delivered, the expectations unmet, and the path to real strategic value.

In this 45-minute fireside chat, you'll hear:

• The 2025 Scorecard: A candid breakdown of the biggest AI predictions for procurement this year. What was pure hype (and landed in the Gartner 'Trough of Disillusionment'), and what delivered measurable ROI?
• The CEO’s Perspective: Spencer Penn, CEO of Light Source (an AI-native platform), shares his unique insights from leading a technology business that only focuses on procurement’s unique data challenges (direct materials, strategic indirect).
• The Editor’s Take: Aaron McMillan provides an independent view from the front lines of the industry, highlighting the executive-level trends, success stories, and talent gaps shaping the profession.
• 2026: The Next Step-Change: Why the focus is shifting from simple generative output to Agentic AI—and how this transition will fundamentally reshape the buyer-supplier dynamic and operational efficiency.
• This is a must-listen podcast for CPOs and senior procurement leaders who want to cut through the noise and define a clear, defensible AI strategy for the year ahead.