Ragan Communications has selected digital media entrepreneur and What’s Trending founder Shira Lazar as a keynote speaker for its 2026 Future of Communications Conference. The three-day event is scheduled for Nov. 11–13 at the Hyatt Regency Austin as part of Communications Week.

Lazar’s keynote, titled “Think Like a Creator: Thriving at the Intersection of AI, Trust and the Future of Communications,” will examine how artificial intelligence, creator-driven media and evolving expectations around authenticity are transforming organizational communications.

The communications landscape is changing rapidly. Executives are increasingly producing content themselves, employees are functioning as publishers, and brands are competing for attention across an expanding and fragmented media environment. Against that backdrop, communicators need to look beyond technology alone and consider how experimentation, curiosity, authenticity and trust can help organizations build stronger connections with their audiences.

During her presentation, Lazar will discuss the growing overlap between corporate communications and the creator economy, the ways AI is influencing work and media, and the steps communications professionals can take to stay relevant as the industry continues to evolve.

Three Days Focused on the Future of Communications
Lazar’s appearance is part of a three-day conference that will bring hundreds of communications professionals to Austin to discuss emerging priorities across internal and external communications, public relations, reputation management, employee communications and leadership.

The 2026 Future of Communications Conference is expected to feature more than 50 senior communications executives, leaders and subject-matter experts across more than 30 keynotes, workshops, case studies, fireside conversations and peer-to-peer sessions.

The speaker lineup includes communications professionals representing organizations such as Lockheed Martin, United Airlines, Dell Technologies, Notion, State Farm, IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, Hachette Book Group, Mozilla, Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services, Dow Jones, Anker, Code for America and Cotality, among others.

AI and Emerging Challenges Take Center Stage
The conference agenda focuses on challenges communications teams are dealing with today as well as developments expected to influence the profession in 2027.

Topics will include AI governance, agentic AI workflows, executive communications, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis readiness, misinformation, organizational transformation, communications measurement and return on investment. Sessions will also address emerging media platforms and the increasing role of AI-powered search in how audiences discover information.

Another area of focus will be the changing nature of online discoverability. Attendees will explore how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) are affecting brand visibility, along with the implications of AI systems becoming an audience for corporate information.

The program will also examine how organizations can respond to deepfakes and synthetic media and maintain an identifiable human voice as AI-generated communications become increasingly widespread.

Dedicated AI Strategy Summit
A dedicated Center for AI Strategy Summit, taking place Nov. 11, will provide additional programming focused specifically on artificial intelligence.

The summit will explore practical approaches to AI adoption, workflow development and governance, along with legal and brand considerations. It will also examine emerging opportunities that communications teams may need to prepare for as organizations expand their use of AI through 2027.

Networking and Peer Exchange
In addition to formal sessions, the Future of Communications Conference will provide opportunities for attendees to interact with other communications professionals. Structured networking, roundtable discussions, receptions and peer conversations are designed to encourage the exchange of practical experiences and ideas.

The conference represents the flagship educational event within Communications Week 2026, which runs Nov. 9–13. Communications Week brings together communications professionals and organizations to recognize the profession while exploring the technologies, trends and changing expectations shaping its future.

The next registration pricing deadline is Oct. 9.

Readers of 3BL Media can receive an additional $500 off registration by using the code 3BL.

Miami Live Streaming, an audiovisual production firm focused on AI-driven production workflows, has unveiled the successful rollout of its automated real-time translation and dubbing platform. The innovation now allows the U.S. television network Real American Voice to air its complete lineup in Spanish while preserving the original presenters’ voices, tone, and on-screen identity—without creating separate regional productions.

Historically, television networks seeking entry into international markets faced major expenses, including building local studios, recruiting regional hosts, or investing heavily in post-production dubbing. Miami Live Streaming’s new system removes many of these obstacles by translating and processing both video and audio streams live. As a result, broadcasters, streaming services, and FAST platforms such as Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Canela TV, and Pluto TV can quickly distribute existing programming to audiences in different language markets worldwide.

Through this technology, Real American Voice has successfully introduced a Spanish-language feed tailored to Hispanic viewers while maintaining the network’s original character and presentation style. Spanish-speaking audiences can now watch the same English-language broadcasts with AI-powered dubbing and highly precise translations that preserve the delivery and personality of the network’s anchors.

According to Juan Pablo, founder of Miami Live Streaming, language differences no longer need to limit international media expansion from either a financial or operational standpoint. He explained that the platform allows broadcasters to instantly communicate with audiences in new languages while using their current infrastructure and existing programming. This means a Brazilian broadcaster could reach English-speaking viewers, or a European network could expand into Spanish-speaking regions without rebuilding its production model.

The company says its solution is built for easy remote integration into existing broadcast operations, making it accessible to networks of varying sizes and budgets. To demonstrate the capability of the technology, Miami Live Streaming also used the platform to power its own live news channel, USA en Vivo, which has attracted strong viewer engagement and showcased the system’s performance in live news broadcasting.

By removing the expense of producing separate localized versions of content, the platform gives broadcasters and production companies the ability to monetize live feeds and media libraries across multiple regions at the same time. Media organizations interested in expanding into new language markets can contact Miami Live Streaming directly to arrange a demonstration of the technology.