AI isn't just about asking ChatGPT questions anymore. In this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Sonance CEO Ari Supran shares how he went from experimenting with AI for simple tasks to helping integrators and business leaders use advanced AI tools to build software, automate workflows, and reclaim valuable time.

Supran explains why many businesses are still stuck in the "chat" phase of AI adoption and how newer agentic tools like Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Codex are enabling users to delegate work instead of simply generating answers. He discusses practical examples of AI organizing files, analyzing documents, building dashboards, creating custom business applications, and even acting as a digital coworker.

The conversation also explores the growing role of AI agents, the importance of open APIs and software integrations, and why Supran believes custom integration firms have a unique opportunity to build purpose-driven tools tailored to their own operations. Along the way, he shares lessons Sonance has learned from deploying AI across the organization and offers advice for integrators looking to move beyond basic AI use cases.

Whether you're just getting started with AI or already experimenting with automation and custom tools, this discussion provides a practical look at where AI is headed and how integration businesses can prepare for what's next.

In this conversation, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with CEDIA’s Evan West, Senior Conference Strategy Manager, and Paul Dolenc, VP of Education & Training, to break down the biggest themes shaping this year’s education program at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver.

The discussion explores how the custom integration industry is evolving beyond traditional AV installation into a more collaborative, design-build-focused business centered around wellness, lighting, cybersecurity, AI, power management, and recurring revenue.

Topics include:

• Why AI is now embedded across nearly every education track
  
  
• How lighting and shading are becoming core business opportunities
  
  
• The growing importance of cybersecurity in the connected home
  
  
• Why integrators need deeper collaboration with architects and designers
  
  
• Power management education and communicating value to homeowners
  
  
• Operational maturity, service contracts, and recurring revenue strategies
  
  
• The future of wellness-focused smart homes
  
  

According to CEDIA, AI-related discussions are expected to touch nearly every session at Expo 2026, while dedicated lighting and shading education tracks reflect growing homeowner demand for human-centric experiences and seamless technology integration.

CEDIA Expo 2026 takes place in Denver, Sept. 1-4.

 Bob Schuppe of Resolute Design Group discusses lighting trends, disappearing technology and why CEDIA Expo remains critical for integrators evaluating emerging solutions. 

Daryl Friedman, CEDIA's Global President & CEO, and Greg Simmons, Vice President of Industry Partnerships at ADI, join the CE Pro Podcast to discuss CEDIA's advocacy work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. 

Topics include spreading awareness about the custom integration industry as a career path, CEDIA's work to establish a specific, separate occupational code for "Technology Integrator" within the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), responding to recent scrutiny of routers made outside the U.S., and more.

Live from CEDIA Expo 2025, Monitor Audio discusses its full-line speaker strategy, growing demand for high-fidelity audio, and how new products are addressing evolving installation environments for today’s integrators.

In Episode 15 of Inside Buzz, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Adam Eberhardt of Resolute Design Group at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to explore the rapidly evolving world of lighting control and smart home design. With more than three decades in the integration industry, Adam breaks down why lighting fixtures, shading, and color‑tuned environments are now essential elements of luxury residential projects - and how homeowners are thinking beyond traditional AV.

Adam also shares insights on educating clients, coordinating with architects and designers, and navigating shifting technologies like PoE shading, cloud‑based systems, and network‑heavy homes. From multifunction entertainment spaces to wellness‑driven bathrooms, Adam highlights the trends reshaping how people experience their homes.

In this episode, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Richard Charschan of Acoustic Smart Home Theater Interiors to explore the evolving home theater market and what it means for integrators today.

Charschan shares insights from decades on the front lines of custom theater design, explaining how demand has surged since COVID as consumers seek immersive, at-home entertainment experiences. He breaks down why the market is increasingly split between ultra-high-end dedicated cinemas and more budget-friendly setups, with fewer midrange projects in between.

The conversation dives into key trends shaping the category, including the rise of video walls, improvements in projection technology, and the growing importance of acoustics, isolation, and proper room design. While video walls are gaining attention, Charschan notes that traditional projectors still dominate the vast majority of installations due to cost and practicality.

The episode also tackles a major industry debate: dedicated theaters vs. multipurpose media rooms. Charschan argues that while both have their place, nothing replaces the immersive, distraction-free experience of a purpose-built theater environment.

Additional topics include:

- How streaming and cinematic TV content are fueling demand
- The role of architects and interior designers in driving (or limiting) theater adoption
- Shifting design trends toward more lifestyle-friendly aesthetics
- New surround sound formats and advancements in audio processing
- Why education is critical to growing the home theater category

Ultimately, Charschan makes the case that home theaters are not just entertainment spaces, but “escape rooms” that provide a level of immersion and emotional impact unmatched by traditional living room setups.

In this episode of the Inside Buzz podcast, Gina Colucci of Market Share — a Pacific Northwest representative for Lutron and several high-end AV brands — joins the discussion at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to share her perspective from the show floor and her work bridging the gap between technology and the design community.

CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Senior Editor Nick Boever to recap Lightapalooza 2026 and break down the biggest developments in lighting — from fixture innovation and control strategies to human-centric design, power infrastructure, and how integrators are positioning lighting as a core system in the modern home.

In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Dan Augsburger, U.S. Residential Sales Manager for LEA Professional, to explore the technologies and trends shaping today’s AV integration world.

Dan breaks down how LEA Professional’s IoT-enabled smart amplifiers are designed with intuitive IT platforms, built‑in DSP, and flexible smart power features that help integrators optimize system performance with ease. He explains why LEA’s cloud‑based monitoring and management tools are often the “light‑bulb moment” for integrators—enabling real‑time system health alerts, remote adjustments, and major cost savings by reducing unnecessary truck rolls.

The conversation also dives into current market sentiment, including how tariffs and interest rates are affecting different project tiers, why high‑end jobs remain strong, and how integrators are adapting. Dan provides insight into LEA’s manufacturing strategy, the engineering advantages of being based in Indiana, and the company’s commitment to working seamlessly with any control system or speaker brand to “raise the tide” across the industry.