How Fast AI Changed Since Last Year

If you were in the AI conversation a year ago, you probably remember the tone. A lot of it still sat just over the horizon. People were trying to sort out what was real, what was marketing, and what might eventually turn into something useful. Agents came up, but mostly as an idea. Interesting, sure. Worth watching, absolutely. But still far enough away that most distributors and manufacturers in the PHCP and PVF industry could keep it in the “not yet” category.
 

That category got smaller in a hurry.
 

One of the clearest ways to understand what has changed since last year’s Applied AI for Distributors event is this: some of the things that were being discussed as next are now showing up as current. Agents are the obvious example. Last year, they were part forecast, part concept. This year, they’ve moved into the live conversation because people can see what they look like in practice.
 

That shift shows up in the direction the technology has taken. A year ago, most AI systems were still confined to responding to prompts. Now you’re seeing the early versions of something different. In simple terms, an agent is a system that can take a goal, figure out the steps required, and execute them using tools and data along the way. Instead of just generating an answer, these systems can plan a sequence of actions, use software, and work toward an outcome.
 

AI is now writing its own code, testing it, and helping improve the systems that power it through iterative loops. Models are interacting with browsers and other tools to gather information and complete tasks across multiple steps. None of this is fully mature, but it’s no longer theoretical. The conversation has moved from “this might be possible” to “this is starting to show up,” which is a real change from where things stood even a year ago.
 

For distributors and manufacturers in the PHCP and PVF industry, that changes the posture. Last year, it was reasonable to spend time getting oriented. Most teams were still trying to understand the tools, test the output, and decide whether any of it belonged in a real workflow. This year, the question is less about whether AI belongs somewhere in the business and more about where it is already starting to earn a place.
 

It’s a better conversation, but also a tougher one. It forces leaders to update their assumptions. Many companies are still reacting to the version of AI they saw six or nine months ago. That version is already outdated. The capabilities have moved, and the practical use cases have moved with them.
 

That is part of what makes this year’s Applied AI for Distributors event more relevant than a standard industry gathering. The event is landing at a moment when the conversation has caught up to the technology. It makes sense to ask how far agents have already come, where they are starting to show up inside real operations, and what that suggests about the next stretch of the curve.
 

DSG deserves some credit here. Topics like agents were on the table before most of the market had a clear feel for them. Now that the technology has advanced and the conversation has moved with it, there is real value in going back to that room and hearing what they are watching next.
 

That’s the practical reason to stay close to this event. Not because AI is trendy or because every software company suddenly added new language to its pitch deck. The pace is fast enough now that leaders need a sharper read on what changed, what is usable, and what is coming into view earlier than expected.
 

For ASA members, especially those trying to separate signal from noise, that is the useful lens. Last year’s “future” is already showing up in the current conversation. The smart move now is not to admire the speed of it. It is to recalibrate around it.
 

Applied AI for Distributors takes place June 23–25 and brings together distribution leaders, operators, and technology teams focused on practical application. The agenda is built around real use cases across pricing, quoting, customer service, inventory, operations, and sales, along with workshops on building an AI roadmap and working with emerging capabilities like agents. More information and registration details are available at appliedaifordistributors.com.

That is part of what makes this year’s Applied AI for Distributors event more relevant than a standard industry gathering. The event is landing at a moment when the conversation has caught up to the technology. Last year, it made sense to talk about where agents were headed. This year, it makes sense to ask how far they have already come, where they are starting to show up inside real operations, and what that suggests about the next stretch of the curve.

If this interests you, Applied AI for Distributors is the industry’s leading event for distribution executives who want to move beyond the hype and learn how AI is delivering real business value today. Attendees will hear from distributors already putting AI to work, explore practical use cases across pricing, quoting, customer service, inventory, operations, and sales, and learn from 40+ AI-enabled technology providers focused on the distribution sector. With executive speakers from companies including Grainger, Graybar, ADI Global, Summit Electric, IBM, and others, plus workshops on building an AI roadmap and AI agents, this event is designed to help distributors identify where AI can improve productivity, strengthen customer experience, and create competitive advantage. Register at www.appliedaifordistributors.com