2023 Fall Forum

Heralded as the most transformative technological advancement to impact humanity in centuries, artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing our lives, our approach to business, and our society. The growing presence and continued development of AI signals a new age of extraordinary opportunity across all industries, while raising significant questions about the future of ethics, privacy, empathy, misinformation, labor, and more

The McIntire School of Commerce’s 2023 Fall Forum, “The AI Revolution: Possibilities & Challenges,” explored the incredible business value and fundamental societal consequences of AI by examining its promise and problems through the use case of generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Special thanks to The Samuel A. Derieux Fund for Business Ethics for sponsoring this event.

Schedule

10 a.m. – Doors Open

10:30 a.m. – Welcome Remarks
Remarks by McIntire Dean Nicole Thorne Jenkins

10:40 a.m. – Keynote Address
Keynote by Zack Kass, Technology Futurist; Specialist in Generative AI Solutions

11 a.m. – Panel Discussion
Zack Kass, Kent Collier (McIntire ’03), Sarah Lebovitz, Dorothy Leidner, with moderation by Steven L. Johnson

11:45 a.m. – Audience Q&A
Audience questions, moderated by Steven L. Johnson

Noon – Event Concludes

Keynote Speaker: Zack Kass, Technology Futurist and Specialist in Generative AI Solutions
Zack Kass is a highly respected figure in the field of technology and innovation. He most recently served as the GTM (Go-To-Market) Lead at OpenAI, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence research organizations.

After completing his degree, Kass began his career as a software engineer, working for several prominent technology companies. He quickly established himself as a talented and innovative thinker, known for his ability to solve complex problems and develop cutting-edge solutions.

As his career progressed, Kass became increasingly interested in the field of artificial intelligence, recognizing its potential to revolutionize everything from business to healthcare to transportation. He joined OpenAI in 2017, where he played a key role in driving the organization’s growth and success.

As GTM Lead, Kass was responsible for developing and executing OpenAI’s go-to-market strategy, working closely with key stakeholders to identify new opportunities and drive growth. He was also responsible for managing relationships with customers, partners, and investors, helping to build and maintain OpenAI’s reputation as a world-class organization at the forefront of AI research and development.

Kass spends a lot of his time consulting Fortune 1000 C-suite, politicians, and other global leaders on their AI strategies, and he has presented at dozens of board meetings. He believes the future is full of hope and abundance, but it’s dependent on the safe and effective adoption of AI. He brings energy, optimism, and humor to his presentations, and welcomes earnest Q&A.

Moderator: Steven L. Johnson, Associate Professor of Commerce
Steven L. Johnson is an award-winning researcher whose work adopts a social-technical perspective to investigate how AI algorithms, platforms, and social dynamics shape the discovery, creation, and sharing of digital information.

Joining Zack Kass as Panelists

Kent Collier (McIntire ’03), Founder and CEO, Reorg
Kent Collier is the Founder and CEO of Reorg, the leading provider of intelligence, data, and analysis for the global credit markets.

Sarah Lebovitz, Assistant Professor of Commerce
An authority on information systems and technological transformation, Sarah Lebovitz investigates how organizations develop, adopt, and use AI tools for making high-stakes decisions.

Dorothy Leidner, Leslie H. Goldberg Jefferson Scholars Foundation Distinguished Professor in Business Ethics
Dorothy Leidner is an expert on business ethics, knowledge management, and workforce digitalization.