On Friday, 17th October 2025, ICON hosted a landmark event, “Applying AI: From Hype to Measurable Impact.” The half-day conference highlighted the real-world impact of artificial intelligence on business and commemorated ICON’s 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century since Ian Castillo and Dr. Gege Gatt founded the pioneering digital company.

The event brought together industry leaders, technology strategists, and innovation experts to share knowledge and insights on how AI is shaping the future of work and business. Attendees explored how to move beyond the hype and harness AI’s potential to drive measurable business outcomes.

Keynotes That Cut Through the Noise

Ian Castillo, CEO of ICON, kicked off the event by reflecting on the company’s 25-year journey. With ICON’s legacy in leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges, Castillo noted, “AI is not a strategy in itself – it’s a tool. Our experience over the past two and a half decades has taught us to identify and focus on the business challenges that need solving first.”

Dr. Gege Gatt, CEO of EBO, followed with a provocative keynote asserting that: “By the end of this decade, there will be two kinds of companies: those that are AI-first, and those that are out of business,” Dr. Gatt warned, underscoring that AI is not just about optimisation; it’s about transformation. 

ICON’s Chief Sales Officer Christine Falzon shared how the company is turning AI into tangible value for businesses through purposeful solutions. Her presentation introduced automateAP, ICON’s new AI-powered solution designed to revolutionise the Accounts Payable process. “Gone are the days of manually processing invoices. automateAP handles processing, validation, and reconciliation in hours, freeing finance teams to focus on growth and strategy,” said Falzon.

Kyle Anastasi, Senior Account Technology Strategist at Microsoft, called 2025 “the year of the Frontier Firm,” citing insights from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index. With 82% of leaders planning to adopt digital labor, he stressed the need for intelligent solutions and strategic partnerships to address rising workloads and limited human capacity.

A Thought-Provoking Panel on the AI-Driven Workplace

The event’s dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Nathan Farrugia, explored the theme “AI-Driven Workplaces – What’s Changing and Why It Matters.” Panellists Ivan Bartolo (BITS Ltd), Andrew Naudi (NOUV), Claire Ciancio (GreenRoads Ltd), and Bernard Fenech (Oney Insurance) shared how AI is already embedded in their operations, driving greater efficiency and decision-making agility.

The panel urged businesses to embrace the AI-driven era, stressing that hesitation could be costly. They collectively highlighted that AI is here to enhance and not replace human work, therefore encouraging organisations to be bold in making the shift toward AI-powered operations.

Looking Ahead

The event concluded with a strong message: real impact comes when technology is applied with intention, purpose, and measurable outcomes. ICON’s 25th anniversary served as a powerful reminder that innovation, when rooted in experience and driven by purpose, has the power to shape not just companies – but entire industries.