What does it take to build a startup where AI helps develop the product, run operations, and improve the systems doing the work? Drawing on lessons from building Prest0 and deploying AI agents in real business environments, Miles Maggio separates practical capabilities from demo theater. He examines where self-developing systems can create value, where they still need human judgment, and why evaluation, oversight, and reliability matter more than an impressive one-off result. The talk also explores the new business questions this raises: how to design teams, assess operating costs, and build a lasting advantage when AI is both part of the product and part of the workforce. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating autonomous AI claims, deciding what to automate now, and preparing for what comes next.
Miles Maggio is a recognized top Voice, keynote speaker, and founder specializing in real-world AI agent engineering. He is the Founder of Prest0, the creator of 24/7 AI employees designed to perform end-to-end digital work for enterprise law firms, finance, and marketing teams—a platform backed by a $350K seed round at a $20M post-money valuation. With 14 years in software engineering and 3+ years dedicated exclusively to building B2B AI agents, Miles brings rare, hands-on production experience to the stage. He previously led an engineering team of seven delivering agentic systems that directly led to a successful company exit, and he has consulted for Fortune 50 brands on agentic architecture. Miles is a frequent speaker and advisor across platforms like the Global Skill Development Council, Founder’s Bay, and numerous industry workshops and podcasts.
