Many in the optical industry will be converging on New York City later this week during Vision Expo East to see new products, eyewear, sunwear, lenses and technology that comprise the optical retail and vision care space.

We will be among those looking to discover what’s new, what are the trends, what are the latest advances and what are people talking about to corroborate what’s working, what’s not working and what’s still-ramping-up to help deliver eyecare and eyewear to millions of people.

Underlying the exploration are notions of design and creativity. Not only are those important in terms of how physical products look and feel. But, people will also be looking to learn which technologies will play an increasingly influential role in helping to make the right business decisions.

New ways of thinking are essential to keeping the optical business fresh and interesting.

At Vision Monday’s 11th Global Leadership Summit this week, we’ll also be looking way beyond the traditional boundaries of the vision care business into the not-too-distant future when systems and machines will start to absorb some of the burden of “thinking” to increase efficiency and decisions. Our theme, A-EYE, also known as AI, artificial intelligence, is taking on new meaning in the business world as well as in culture and society.

Computers that “think” or “interpret” are rewriting the rules and supercharging decision making in fields as diverse as health care, fashion and retailing. Will they be helpful or harmful? What are leading thinkers’ perspectives on AI, and how do people running businesses, both large and small, need to learn about what’s happening in a realm that used to be only the stuff of science fiction and is now a very real part of our digital world.

Imagination and creativity support innovation. Intelligence, real and artificial, will also expand to challenge us all.

maxelrad@jobson.com