Curiosity Meets Code: How AI Is Redefining Innovation at the Brooklyn Tech Expo 

The Brooklyn Tech Expo brought together founders, engineers, and marketers to explore what’s next at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence. Across panels and keynotes, one theme stood out: the future of technology depends as much on human curiosity as it does on machine intelligence. From helping traditional industries embrace generative AI to redefining the role of creative thinking in a data-driven world, the event highlighted how progress comes from pairing technological precision with human perspective. 

Helping Traditional Industries Join the Generative AI Wave 

In his session, Yehoyada Mandeel, CEO of Marzipan Tech, discussed how established industries are finally catching up to the generative AI revolution. His message was clear: companies that missed the early digital transformation boom can’t afford to repeat history. 

We’ve entered a new phase of AI, beyond automation and into optimization. Modern AI agents now act through decision tiers, performing goal-oriented reasoning rather than rule-based execution. Instead of focusing on how to code the backend, innovation is shifting toward how these systems think and adapt like humans. 

Mandeel highlighted how development timelines have accelerated by more than 30%. What once required years of testing and refinement can now be executed in three to four months. Much like eCommerce’s early trajectory, adoption, improvement, and then optimization, AI is following the same path, only faster. 

His takeaway for business leaders: the real cost isn’t in AI adoption, it’s in hesitation. 

For marketers and communicators, this signals a crucial shift. As AI tools and integrations become democratized, brands that experiment early with AI-powered storytelling, predictive analytics, and audience engagement will build stronger competitive advantages. In digital marketing and digital PR, speed and adaptability will define success. 

AI, Curiosity, and Entrepreneurship 

David Lefer, Professor at NYU Tandon, approached AI from a more human perspective. His talk focused on what machines still lack: genuine curiosity. While AI systems excel at generating answers, humans remain unique in their ability to ask meaningful questions. 

Lefer drew parallels between AI models and Koko the Gorilla, capable of mimicry and communication, yet without true self-awareness. He emphasized that AI possesses no epistemic curiosity, meaning it doesn’t wonder about the world or its place in it. Humans, by contrast, operate through diverse forms of curiosity: 

• Empathic curiosity: understanding others. 

• Diversity curiosity: exploring the unknown. 

• Need for cognition (NFC): the drive to think deeply and challenge assumptions. 

His takeaway: AI is a tool for amplifying human intelligence, not replacing it. The value lies in people who can ask better, braver questions. For entrepreneurs, curiosity fuels innovation; for marketers, it fuels insight. 

In PR and brand strategy, the same principle applies. Asking “why” before “how” leads to authentic storytelling, stronger positioning, and campaigns that truly connect. 

PR Takeaways: Connecting Technology and Humanity 

The Brooklyn Tech Expo underscored a key truth: the most powerful innovations still begin with people. 

For communications and marketing teams, the lessons are clear: 

• Adopt early, adapt often. AI’s acceleration rewards brands that test, learn, and refine in real time. 

• Prioritize human creativity. Use technology to enhance empathy and storytelling, not replace it. 

• Ask better questions. Whether building a strategy or crafting content, curiosity is the cornerstone of relevance. 

• Build for optimization, not automation. True innovation lives in continuous improvement. 

As AI continues to evolve, communicators have the opportunity to lead the conversation, not just about what technology can do, but about what it means. 

The Future: Where Technology Meets Purpose 

At 5WPR, we see firsthand how innovation and humanity intersect across industries. Our teams help brands translate complex technologies into meaningful narratives that connect, inspire, and drive measurable results. 

As AI reshapes the business landscape, the most successful organizations will be those that combine technical fluency with human insight, a balance that turns advancement into authenticity. 

In today’s world, the smartest question isn’t “What can AI do?” It’s “What can we do better because of it?” 

Learn more about how our SEO and communications experts help brands lead in the era of intelligent innovation.