AI in the Real World: What Economists Need to Know

Brandon Stewart will provide an insider’s view on how organizations are adopting AI
AI investment is projected to hit $2.5 trillion globally in 2026, yet 84% of companies haven’t redesigned how they work around it. Brandon Stewart, Partner at Caravan, draws on firsthand experience training small groups inside companies to separate the signal from the noise. He’ll walk through what’s happening inside organizations adopting AI — from IT policy gaps and workforce fears to the rise of autonomous agents — and why the next 12 months matter more than the last three years combined.
Brandon Stewart is a Partner at Caravan, an AI training and implementation firm based in Birmingham. Caravan works hands-on with companies to upskill their teams on applied AI tools, training 12-14 people per session with a focus on practical, day-two readiness. Brandon’s background spans business operations and technology, and he has spent the past eight months deeply embedded in the AI builder ecosystem — coding, deploying agents, and working directly with companies navigating the AI transition.