2025 Knowledge ∞ Continuum: The Future of Work in the Age of AI

The 2025 Knowledge ∞ Continuum was held on Friday, May 2nd in the newly opened Shumway Hall at the McIntire School of Commerce and explored “The Future of Work in the Age of AI.”  This daylong conference was hosted by the Center for the Management of IT (CMIT) with support from the Center for Business Analytics (CBA) and delivered a dynamic mix of keynote sessions, industry panels, and deep dives into generative AI in academic and professional contexts. Attendees ranged from alumni and current students to faculty and industry leaders, fostering a vibrant environment of strategic dialogue, innovation, and networking.

The program opened with warm remarks by CMIT Director Professor Ryan Nelson, Murray Family Eminent Professor of Commerce, who underscored the importance of lifelong learning in the Jeffersonian spirit and celebrated the collaborative role of the newly christened Shumway Hall. He was joined by Professor Brent Kitchens, Co‑Director of the Center for Business Analytics, highlighting the synergy between CMIT and CBA in engaging students and alumni in cutting‑edge research and conversations.

Morning keynotes featured three thought leaders on AI’s evolving role in the workplace. Paul Daugherty, former Chief Technology & Innovation Officer of Accenture and author of Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI, championed AI as a magnifier of human capability, countering the narrative of automation as replacement. Tom Davenport, Darden’s Bodily Bicentennial Professor of Analytics and author of All In on AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence, offered frameworks for how organizations can integrate AI strategically to win big. Zack Kass, Executive‑in‑Residence at McIntire and author of the forthcoming The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential, added perspective on how AI is catalyzing new dimensions of human achievement. The session was adeptly moderated by Montana Showalter (McIntire ’24), bridging the keynote insights to attendee reflections.

Later in the morning, the conversation turned inward—celebrating both institutional and student contributions—starting with an Industry Reaction panel featuring Rob Alexander, CIO of Capital One, Kelly Doney, VP & CIO of UVA, and Shamim Mohammad, EVP & CITO of CarMax, moderated by Barb Wixom from MIT CISR. This segment demonstrated how faculty, alumni, and industry leaders collaboratively interpret and deploy AI in real-world organizational leadership. Later, UVA students and faculty contributed to the program through the session “What’s Happening with GenAI at UVA & McIntire?” hosted by Ryan Wright, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Research at the Commerce School, and featuring Sarah Lebovitz, Assistant Professor and Jingjing Li, Andersen Alumni Associate Professor and MSBA Director.  Student presenters Alex Talreja (McIntire & Computer Science ’26), Pierce Brookins (McIntire ’28) and Nathan Wang (Computer Science ’28) delivered thoughtful presentations on their winning generative AI concepts.

Overall, the 2025 Knowledge ∞ Continuum succeeded in weaving together insights from renowned authors and industry executives with forward‐looking research and student voices. The gathering exemplified the unique involvement of McIntire’s ecosystem—alumni, faculty, students, and industry—in understanding and shaping how AI transforms work, learning, and human potential.  Keep an eye on the CMIT website and LinkedIn page for information on our future events!