AI-Powered Procurement: The Future Didn't Wait

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 10 AM PST/1 PM EST

In this live, interactive session, PlanetBids CTO Kenneth Howe and Director of Product Alex Tanck bring a practitioner's perspective to one of the most pressing questions in public procurement today: not whether AI will change how government purchasing works — but how far it already has.

Generative AI has moved faster than most organizations anticipated. What started as writing assistance has evolved into autonomous agents capable of researching vendors, drafting solicitations, evaluating bids, and flagging compliance issues — all before a procurement officer touches the keyboard. The offices that recognized this early are already pulling ahead.

Drawing on deep experience building AI-powered tools for the public sector, Kenneth and Alex will walk through where AI stands today, what's actually useful in a procurement workflow, and what risks to watch for. The session culminates in a live demo — using a real project scenario from a volunteer in the room — that shows AI in action across the full purchasing lifecycle.

Attendees will leave with a clear view of the current AI landscape, a practical framework for prompting AI effectively, and three concrete steps they can take immediately to start putting these tools to work.