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May 7, 2026The Technology Association of Georgia hosted its flagship annual Georgia Technology Summit at the Cobb Convention Center, drawing more than 1,000 technologists, founders, executives, and investors for a day of high-level conversations, live competitions, and face-to-face networking.
Under the theme “Innovation Unleashed: Navigating the Intelligence Frontier,” this year’s summit focused on how organizations are deploying AI and navigating the next phase of enterprise technology.
A New Showcase for a New Era
One of the most talked-about additions this year was the Innovation Pavilion & Exhibit Hall. The 2026 summit introduced a curated space designed to facilitate real-world innovation showcases and meaningful, peer-level engagement. Companies gave attendees hands-on experiences with their technology. It raised the bar for what a tech summit exhibition can look like.
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TAG President and CEO Larry K. Williams put it plainly, saying, “ Georgia Technology Summit 2026 was a tremendous success and a powerful reflection of Georgia’s position as a global hub of innovation. GTS brings together the leaders shaping the future of technology and business – from enterprise executives and founders to investors, policymakers, and innovators – to connect, collaborate, and lead. This year’s conversations moved beyond theory into real-world execution across AI, cybersecurity, fintech, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies. From robots and autonomous aerial vehicles on site to candid discussions about the intelligence frontier, GTS showcased both the innovation being built in Georgia and the leadership helping define what comes next.”
Recognizing Georgia’s Innovators
The summit also served as the stage for TAG’s annual Top 40 Innovative Companies announcement. The cohort reflects the scale, ambition, and diversity of Georgia’s tech ecosystem
Dennis Zakas, CEO of GetRecz and Chair of the Top 40/Top 10 competition, noted the honorees span industries from e-commerce to robotics and artificial intelligence. Each is selected based on a proven track record of developing disruptive technologies and driving economic growth. Notably, some of the honorees include Ask Me Your MD, Focused Cryo Inc., Intersect Technology Group, MUJIN Corp., and Pull Logic, which were among those named to the prestigious list.
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Among the night’s standout winners was ONEtechnology, which walked away with three awards. The company earned Top 40 recognition, a Top 10 placement chosen by an independent panel, and the People’s Choice “Coolest Technology” award, voted live by attendees. Their ONEplatform product, described as Visual Declarative AI for enterprise software, drew strong interest for its ability to ship production software without writing traditional code.
Leadership, AI, and What Comes Next
The speaker lineup reflected the summit’s broader ambitions. Voices from companies including Calendly, Cisco Systems, McKesson, and Atlanta Tech Village. They joined academics and data experts working at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. Sessions didn’t shy away from hard questions about staying competitive as AI reshapes entire industries
Panelists at the Georgia Technology Summit, Image credit: Technology Association of Georgia / JPhotography by M Photographics
One of the most striking shifts discussed was in how enterprise technology leaders see their own roles. Daniel Mikkelsen, VP of Gas Technology and CIO at Southern Company, described a fundamental repositioning. His team is building small, purpose-built language models tailored to Southern Company’s specific operations.
His approach centers on what he calls “atomic agentic capabilities.” One agent reads a contract. Another calculates the terms and conditions. Stitched together, they handle complex workflows with risk management built in from the start. It’s a model that treats AI less like a platform and more like a collection of specialized, interoperable tools.
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The implications are significant. If this approach gains traction, enterprises won’t just be AI users. They’ll be AI manufacturers.
Not all the innovation was theoretical. Marcos Acosta, Head of Digital Transformation at Yamaha Motors, shared a concrete example of what happens when AI is deployed thoughtfully.
His team replaced the traditional scroll-and-browse structure of Yamaha’s e-commerce website with a conversational AI agent. The result was dramatic. The time it took a customer to find the right product dropped from 20 minutes to under two minutes. This was a redesign of the customer experience from the ground up.
Georgia’s tech moment feels different now. Through TAG’s Vision 2030 initiative, the organization has committed to elevating and connecting innovators as it works to strengthen Georgia’s position on the global stage. The April 30 summit, with its packed halls, buzzing exhibit floor, and live stage competitions, made clear that ambition is not in short supply.
Main Image: Technology Association of Georgia / JPhotography by M Photographics
