Cactus Communications (CACTUS), a leading technology company specializing in AI and expert solutions for the scholarly publishing ecosystem, is set to host an exclusive event in Washington, DC, titled “Reinventing Publishing with Human-AI Collaboration.” Scheduled for November 20th 2025 at The National Union Building, the half-day event aims to explore how human expertise and artificial intelligence (AI) can work together to drive innovation, creativity, and efficiency across the scholarly publishing ecosystem. It will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers for an engaging, forward-looking dialogue.
Designed specifically for senior leaders in academic and scholarly publishing, this first-of-its-kind conference by CACTUS will feature discussions on how publishers can move beyond apprehension toward AI and instead embrace it as a strategic tool to strengthen decision-making, streamline workflows, and enhance value creation across the publishing process.
Professor Mike Grandinetti, Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and a globally recognized expert in innovation strategy, AI, and digital transformation will deliver a keynote address. Known as a thought leader in AI, he will share insights on how AI can augment human potential, reshape processes, and foster a culture of innovation. Commenting on his participation, he said, “I’m excited to be supporting Cactus Communications by keynoting their upcoming conference in Washington DC & coaching their clients on the power of AI in publishing.”
Adding an industry perspective, Dr. Sarah Tegen, Senior Vice President and Chief Publishing Officer, Publications Division, American Chemical Society (ACS), will discuss how scholarly publishers can adopt AI responsibly and effectively while ensuring integrity, equity, and trust remain central to the publishing process. She commented, “The potential for human beings helped by AI to innovate in scholarly publishing is vast. I applaud CACTUS for their thought leadership and look forward to a productive day of discussion.”
Speaking about the event, Nikesh Gosalia, Chief Partnership Officer, Cactus Communications, said, “This event marks a defining moment for CACTUS and the broader publishing community. As the industry grapples with uncertainty around AI, from data security and accuracy to declining traffic and revenue risk, we aim to move the conversation from hesitation to action. With insights from Professor Grandinetti and Dr. Tegen, we will explore how human-AI collaboration can drive reliable, responsible innovation. Washington, DC, is the first step in a global dialogue to shape the future of scholarly communication.”
The event on Reinventing Publishing with Human-AI Collaboration represents CACTUS’ ongoing commitment to thought leadership, driving open discussions on the evolving role of AI in research and publishing.
Those interested in attending can contact rachel.ennis@cactusglobal.com for more information.
