The current and future impacts of AI on our lives can only be described as seismic and yet, that description still feels like an understatement. AI has profoundly changed our personal lives but also our work, humming behind the scenes in ways more pervasive than we could have ever imagined. AI now drafts our emails, crunches our data and even nudges decisions that once belonged solely to us. So, it’s no surprise that many employees across every sector are left wondering, even asking AI itself, how soon until I’m replaced? One profession though stands ready to embrace this technology while remaining confidently irreplaceable: procurement.
Beyond Transactions: The Heart of Public Service
Procurement is not just another bureaucratic government function but rather, it’s strategic and impactful work that affects us all, in every state and community across the country. Procurement professionals don’t just move contracts across a desk. They lead. They safeguard public trust. They balance the messy realities of efficiency, transparency and community needs which requires a blend of judgment, ethics, strategy and relationships that no algorithm could ever match. So, for procurement professionals, the question of AI is not whether or not they will be replaced but how to best leverage AI to its fullest potential for the benefit of the public. AI is a vital tool that allows procurement professionals to focus on strategic-level decisions for their departments, states and communities as well as to advance and elevate the profession through training, resources and talent recruitment.
Elevating the Profession
Founded in 1947, the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence and integrity. It serves directors of central procurement offices across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories. This network represents billions of dollars in purchasing power and touches every aspect of public life—from infrastructure and technology to healthcare and education.
NASPO is committed to serving its members and the greater public procurement profession and a critical part of that is staying ahead of trends. As AI and other intelligent systems rapidly change how data is processed, contracts are analyzed and decisions are made, NASPO is uniquely positioned to help procurement offices leverage it. These tools will not replace procurement professionals but amplify their expertise, enabling them to focus on strategy, innovation and stewardship of public trust. As the national leader in the public procurement space, NASPO is working to drive and curate innovation with initiatives such as the Accelerator Hub and the Emerging Markets Initiative.
The Accelerator Hub project is an initiative focused on transforming the procurement process through smart and practical applications. Launched in 2025, the pilot project of the Accelerator Hub is AI and employs a hands-on micro-experimentation methodology to test and implement AI solutions across key procurement activities, aiming to boost accuracy, speed and efficiency.
The Emerging Marketing Initiative (EMI) invites suppliers across all industries and sectors to bring forth new and innovative ideas and solutions for public sector, including AI. The initiative's overarching goal is to broaden the perspective of public procurement professionals by actively exploring ideas from private sector suppliers. Each year, suppliers have the opportunity to submit their proposals and if selected, present at the NASPO/PPA Exchange Conference. Interested suppliers can submit their proposals here.
The NASPO/PPA Exchange Conference
In a world of rapidly changing and emerging technologies, the importance of advancing and elevating the procurement profession has never been more critical. There is no better place to join the discussion and learn more about NASPO, the profession and the innovative solutions within the industry than at the NASPO/PPA Exchange Conference on March 9-12, 2026, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Conference goers can expect to gain valuable insights into procurement trends, technologies and best practices, such as AI and other technologies as well as unmatched networking opportunities, supplier one-on-one meetings and networking events in the all-new Exchange Hub!
Join nearly 1,200 procurement professionals and suppliers from across North America at this premier industry event and register here.
The Future is Human + Technology
Future-proofing procurement won’t replace human expertise with AI – it will amplify human capabilities through thoughtful technology integration. The question isn’t whether AI will replace procurement professionals – it’s how procurement professionals will lead that change.
Ready to join the conversation? Learn more and register for the NASPO/PPA Exchange Conference at naspo.org/events.
For more information about NASPO, visit naspo.org. To learn about the Procurement Professionals Alliance, visit JoinPPA.org.
