Promo Insiders: AI, Tariffs & Highlights From the ASI Power Summit
The ASI Media editors offer up their biggest takeaways from the conference that brings together leaders in the promo industry.
The 2025 ASI Power Summit had one eye toward the present and another toward the future. AI was the dominant theme of the annual conference that brings together the most influential figures in the promotional products industry. Keynote speakers (including Sophia, the AI-powered humanoid robot) and panels explained why promo companies should be using AI now and how it’s going to completely transform our industry – even if it wasn’t completely clear what those changes will look like.
“It was really the main thread through all of the sessions,” says Sara Lavenduski, ASI’s executive director of client education & content, who attended the ASI Power Summit this year. “I would say nearly all of them, perhaps 90% of the sessions had an AI aspect to them.”
In this post-Power Summit recap episode of Promo Insiders, Lavenduski and ASI Media Editor-in-Chief C.J. Mittica discuss their thoughts about AI after the conference, as well as their takeaways on tariffs and the economy. They also discuss the vision for Counselor Top 40 distributor HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000) laid out by new CEO Jim Hilt in a Q&A and list their favorite fun moments (burros! charcuterie boards!) from the high-energy event.
Key Takeaways
• AI was the dominant theme of the 2025 ASI Power Summit, highlighting both its transformative potential and the industry’s uncertainty about how it will reshape promotional products and job roles.
• While a few companies have fully integrated AI, most are still experimenting; speakers urged attendees to start using AI tools now to stay competitive as adoption accelerates.
• Economist Mary Kelly noted that the U.S. economy is stable but complex, with persistent inflation and tariffs influencing business planning – yet industry data shows steady growth and cautiously positive Q4 expectations.
• Sessions with new leaders like HALO (asi/356000) CEO Jim Hilt and Justin Zavadil, president of Counselor Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business (asi/120075) offered unique perspectives on running Top 40 companies, while networking events and fun activities kept the conference lively and engaging.