This year has been a busy time, with multiple conferences and networking opportunities. The I.C.E. Exchange is just one of the many testing industry events I regularly attend, and it’s a highlight of my calendar. It’s always such a pleasure to engage with industry colleagues – and the 2024 I.C.E. Exchange in Miami was no different.
Many of my peers have already shared their excellent insights and learnings from the conference, in blogs and on social media. Not surprisingly, a lot of this has been around AI and new technologies. However, what really stood out for me when I look back on this year’s event was the willingness of those in our industry to take part in conversations and connect around the topics that are important to all of us.
A willingness to collaborate and exchange ideas is an amazing feature of the testing community. We can advance and improve by working together, and it is events like the I.C.E. Exchange that allow us to do this. And of course, the sessions I attended at the conference contributed to supporting these engaging discussions.
Recording breaking attendance
Not only was the level of engagement at the conference extremely high, the number of people attending was also higher than ever before. I feel the attendance levels reflected both the diversity and relevance of the conference content and the need for people to network. People really wanted to connect with the many topics on the agenda, including many first-time attendees and those new to the industry.
I could see the desire from attendees to connect, build our shared learnings, and move forward together to make the industry stronger. Coming together and using the opportunity to do this was a wonderful way to end the year.
Engaging with key topics
With a lot of sessions centered on AI, it was striking how the application of AI in testing has rapidly moved to the next level. At events earlier in 2024, discussions were still at a very theoretical level. At the I.C.E. Exchange, we saw more real-world applications for AI in testing.
At the same time, it was clear that there are still a lot of questions about AI. We’re all looking for more opportunities and concrete applications and I’m proud that this is where PSI really showed up. It was exciting to share our partnership with Memorang and the great leap forward we are taking with the use of AI in both test preparation and test content generation.
Another key theme at the conference was the threats and opportunities posed by AI. With technology evolving so quickly, we need to identify the potential issues early and stay ahead of them. We can’t do this alone, so partnerships and collaboration will be vital. That’s why it was so positive to be able to share our partnership with Entrust – including a memorable demonstration of how deepfake is being used by proxy test takers and how AI can be used to combat this.
Credentialing program needs
Another focus at the I.C.E. was what credentialing programs need in this constantly evolving environment. For example, accreditation and upholding industry standards will be a vital component of our response to change. And the level of engagement I saw in a session I co-facilitated with two of my I.C.E. Accreditation Services Council colleagues on the value of accreditation reflected this.
One of the features of the session was the mix of individuals and organizations in the room. Ranging from already accredited programs that have experience of the process, to those who are in the initial stages of considering accreditation. It was inspiring to see the level of engagement in the room as the panel responded to questions, and others in the room joined in and interacted with each other. It’s one of the things I appreciate about the conference – it creates opportunities for that level of engagement.
I.C.E. Exchange highlight
It won’t be a surprise to anyone who experienced the keynote address by Shasta Nelson that this was one of the highlights of the event for me. Shasta is an author and expert in social relationships and belongingness. And amidst all the talk of AI and innovative technologies, she reminded us about the critical importance of human connection.
Shasta spoke about the three relationship requirements – consistency (time together), vulnerability (sharing to feel seen), and positivity (enjoyable emotions). She covered the fascinating and rarely discussed topic of having best friends at work and the positive impact this can have on performance. It was an opportunity to reflect on some of the amazing friendships I have developed through work and helpful to get Shasta’s insights into making the most of these relationships. Because after all, work is where many of us spend most of our time!
It was also a timely reminder that regardless of how successfully we integrate AI into our systems and processes, we still work with human beings – and our test takers will always be human. It’s important that we never lose sight of this.
Don’t wait for next time
Looking back on the 2024 I.C.E. Exchange and forward into 2025, I see the value in keeping the conversations going. Things are moving so fast, and we can’t wait for the next conference to build our understanding of the opportunities and threats that are out there. We must start converting the learnings from I.C.E. into action as soon as possible.
At PSI, we are committed to keeping pace with change and supporting our clients in navigating this vast space and evolving landscape. I’m already looking forward to the 2025 I.C.E. Exchange in Phoenix and please reach out if you’d like to keep the conversation going before then!
