Over 300 industry leaders, academics, and entrepreneurs convened at San José State University for the second annual Responsible Innovation in Artificial Intelligence Conference. The event focused on the pressing question of how to develop, deploy, and govern AI responsibly. Nick Larson, host of Silicon Zombies, opened the conference by addressing the tension between innovation and responsibility. University leaders, including SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson, emphasized the institution’s commitment to preparing students for an AI-driven world.
Keynote speaker Stephen Caines, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San José, highlighted the responsibility of cities to deploy AI equitably. A subsequent fireside chat with NVIDIA’s Shanker Trivedi and Cisco’s Surbhi Kaul explored the balance between AI’s transformative power and ethical considerations. The Education Track featured insights from Google DeepMind’s Nupur Jain and SJSU’s Dr. Joseph Grzywacz on AI’s role in research and learning. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Yingjie Liu examined AI’s impact on education, addressing challenges like regulation and institutional inertia.
Business-focused sessions included keynotes from Jeremiah Owyang of Blitzscaling Ventures and Alison Richards of Intel Corporation. Owyang emphasized the need for all individuals to manage AI agents effectively. The AI in Business panel, led by Vasudha Badri-Paul, discussed real-world AI implementations, with insights on product development and commercialization. The conversation also touched on issues of bias, accountability, and sustainability.
The conference concluded with a venture capital session, exploring the future of AI investment. Panelists agreed that responsible AI development is a shared responsibility, requiring diverse voices from all sectors. The discussions underscored the importance of ensuring AI benefits society as a whole.
