Autonomous Innovation
and Product Development

Explore how the AI Agents will result in an explosion of new products and services. Many of them will not be for humans.

September 16, 2026
5:00pm-8:30pm
Menlo Park, CA

Traditionally, innovation and product development have been viewed as deeply human activities. But what if humans are not the users, nor the buyers? And what if we do not merely use AI agents to automate parts of innovation and product development, but put them in charge of the process itself, with humans as intellectual contributors instead of bosses?

In this session we will explore what the near future of innovation and product development might look like, discuss open problems and solutions, and chart a roadmap for what lies ahead.

Confirmed Speakers:


Dr. Zafer Sahinoglu, VP of Innovation, Mitsubishi Electric
Frode L. Odegard, Founder, Post-Industrial Institute

Additional speakers TBA

​Who should attend:

This event is aimed at enterprise leaders engaged in organizational transformation and AI founders. Seating is strictly limited and subject to approval.

Agenda

5:00 pm - Networking and refreshments
6:00 pm - Welcome to the Post-Industrial Forum

6:10 pm - Presentations
Frode L. Odegard, Founder, Post-Industrial Institute
Dr. Zafer Sahinoglu, GM, Mitsubishi Electric Innovation Center
Additional Speakers TBA

7:00 pm - Roundtable discussion
7:45 pm - Networking and refreshments
8:30 pm - Close

Note: This event will be live-streamed on Zoom for members who cannot attend in-person. In-person attendance is free for members, please register with your code.

About the Post-Industrial Forum

​Based in Silicon Valley, the Post-Industrial Institute (PII) was founded by Frode Odegard in 2004. Our mission is to develop new management science, frameworks, and tools for leaders building the firms of the future.

​In 2019, we launched the Post-Industrial Forum—a community for visionary leaders who are building new pathbreaking firms or transforming leading enterprises. Members connect with peers, learn together, and apply insights to accelerate their journey.

​We share original PII research with members and invite industry experts and executives from pioneering organizations to offer their insights. The Forum hosts public events and summits, as well as member-exclusive programs delivered both in person and online through a dedicated member portal featuring exclusive content.

Speakers