According to DeepLearning.AI on Twitter, Andrew Ng opened the AI Dev 25 x NYC conference by emphasizing the value of networking and collaboration within the AI community. He shared a concrete example from the previous San Francisco event, noting that attendee Kirsty Tan later founded the AI startup AI Inspire after connecting at the conference. This highlights how AI-focused events foster business opportunities and innovation through professional connections. The emphasis on networking at AI Dev 25 demonstrates the industry's ongoing trend of leveraging in-person events to spark entrepreneurial ventures and cross-disciplinary partnerships, which are essential for accelerating AI development and commercialization (source: DeepLearning.AI on Twitter, Nov 14, 2025).