Attencity and Partners Convene AI Leaders to Shape AI-Era Brand Growth
NEW YORK – Attencity, together with Manhattan Elite Club and Solo Unicorn Club, partnered with industry leaders to host Pre-AI Tech Week NYC, bringing together more than 150 founders, investors, creators, researchers, engineers, and community leaders. The gathering reflected the accelerating convergence of artificial intelligence, media, and brand building, as companies rethink how visibility and credibility are established in an AI-mediated environment.
More than 150 founders, investors, creators, researchers, engineers, and community leaders joined the gathering.
Connecting the Innovation Ecosystem
The event opened with remarks from Lynn Zhang, Founder of Attencity, speaking on behalf of Jenny Chen, Founder of the Manhattan Elite Club. Zhang spoke to the accelerating convergence of local and global innovation ecosystems, noting that cross-border collaboration and open communication have become central drivers of technological development.
She also highlighted the launch of the Silicon Valley AI Film Festival (SVAIFF) New York Chapter, marking an expansion of the global AI-focused film and digital content platform into the New York ecosystem. AI film director Binhe also attended the event and held a signing session for his book AI Apocalypse, adding a literary and creative dimension to the gathering.
The opening ceremony was attended by local elected officials, including New York State Senator Steve Chan, New York State Assemblyman Lester Chang, and New York City Council Members Phil Wong and Susan Zhuang. They joined organizers in recognizing the event’s role in convening the region’s AI and innovation community.
Officials joined organizers in recognizing the event’s role in convening the region’s AI and innovation community.
AI Is Rewriting How Brands Are Discovered and Trusted
The event focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping media, creativity, entrepreneurship, and brand growth.
During the program, Gloria (Yuwen) Lu, Head of Global Growth & Partner at Attencity, described a shift in how brands are discovered and evaluated.
“AI is not changing search. It is changing how brands are discovered and chosen,” Lu said. “In the past, consumers discovered brands through websites and search results. Today, AI systems increasingly influence what information people see, trust, and act upon. The brands that win will not simply be the most visible—they will be the ones consistently recognized and recommended across AI systems, media platforms, and communities.”
Lu added that this shift is forcing a break from traditional marketing models, where visibility alone is no longer sufficient without underlying signals that can be interpreted across both human audiences and machine systems.
Gloria Lu, Head of Global Growth & Partner at Attencity, shared the company’s perspective on AI-era brand discovery and trust.
From Channels to Systems: The Shift Toward AI-Readable Brand Infrastructure
At the event, Lu also introduced Attencity’s Operating System of Growth, framing it as a response to how brands are adapting to this shift.
The model brings together seven growth engines: 1) Narrative (brand strategy and positioning), 2) Authority (PR and media relations), 3) Influence (creator and influencer marketing), 4) Growth (e-commerce and performance marketing), 5) Activation (events and experiential marketing), 6) Discovery (GEO and AI search optimization), and 7) Identity (founder and executive branding).
Rather than operating as isolated channels, these functions are increasingly being treated as a connected system that determines how brands are surfaced, interpreted, and recommended across media, communities, and AI-driven platforms.
Attencity’s Operating System of Growth brings together seven interconnected engines for AI-era brand growth.
Global Brand Legibility in an AI-Mediated Market
Lu introduced the concept of “Global Legibility”, describing a growing requirement for international brands operating in AI-mediated environments. “The next generation of global brands will not be defined by where they operate, but by whether they can be consistently understood and recommended worldwide,” Lu said.
Zhang also emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting brands as they expand internationally, helping them remain consistently understandable across languages, cultures, and AI systems. She said future global expansion will depend not only on entering new markets, but on whether brands can be clearly interpreted and recommended across contexts.
As AI systems increasingly influence discovery and decision-making, clarity and consistency across contexts is becoming a defining factor in how brands scale globally. Beyond thought leadership, the event created a space for collaboration across technology, media, investment, and creative industries, reflecting New York’s role as an active node in the global AI ecosystem.
Founder Lynn Zhang with international guests, reflecting cross-industry collaboration.
About Attencity
Attencity is a marketing agency helping brands build authority, credibility, and discoverability in the AI era. Its services span PR, brand strategy, creator marketing, event planning, cross-border e-commerce, and founder branding. It also provides integrated marketing support across major global and regional platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and RedNote.
As a pioneer in GEO, Attencity helps technology, consumer, and AI-native brands strengthen their presence in AI-driven discovery. It has supported more than 50 brands globally and helped connect entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation communities through data-driven marketing and community-building.
Looking ahead to January 2027, Attencity will continue its collaboration with SMG, the official CES partner, through participation at CES 2027. With three consecutive years of CES involvement and more than 20 technology brands supported, the company remains focused on helping brands expand internationally and build global recognition.
Media Contact
Company Name: Attencity LLC.
Contact Person: Gloria Lu
Email: Send Email
Phone: (+1) 203-410-2963
City: New York
Country: United States
Website: http://www.attencity.com/
