Agenda

​7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

Join us for a fascinating online discussion of "Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI," the latest book from bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari. In this thought-provoking work, Harari takes us on a journey through human history, examining how the flow of information has shaped civilizations—from ancient religious texts to the rise of populism and AI.

Harari argues that while information networks have allowed humanity to achieve remarkable feats, they’ve also spread mass delusions that drive self-destructive behavior. As we face an unprecedented information revolution, Harari challenges us to reflect on the critical choices ahead. Will AI form new networks that obscure the truth and prevent us from shaping a better future, or can we make informed decisions to avoid the worst outcomes?

This discussion will explore the intersection of information, power, and truth throughout history and the implications for our technological future. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in this timely conversation about the role of information in human society, and how AI can be a powerful positive tool for information networks' accuracy and quality.

Key Topics:

• The history of information networks and their influence on human progress

• The role of myths, delusions, and propaganda in shaping societies

• AI’s potential to reshape the flow of information and truth in the 21st century

Attendance Instructions

Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Moderator

Michael Ignatowski is a Senior Fellow at AMD Research in Austin, where he leads the research work in advanced memory architecture for high performance computers. Mike was involved in AMD’s role in winning the bid for the Frontier Exascale system to be installed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory next year. Before joining AMD 10 years ago, Mike worked at IBM in upstate New York for 27 years in advanced development and research. Mike has a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Michigan State University.

Outside of work, Mike serves on the board for Common Ground for Texans (CG4TX.org), a local group dedicated to promoting civil discourse among diverse communities and seeking common ground solutions toward a healthy democracy. He also serves on the board of 350-Austin, a local chapter of the international 350.org organization dedicated to reducing the threat of climate change. Mike is also the former president of the Central Texas Chapter of the World Future Society.

Event Summary

Quantum computing promises transformational capabilities for developing new materials and pharmaceuticals, finding better answers to the most complex optimization problems in logistics and finance, enabling RSA key decryption, accelerating search algorithms for very large data, and more. However, quantum computers are currently still small, error-prone, and fragile. So, why should you learn about quantum computing, algorithms, and programming now? Because viable, advantageous quantum computing systems are imminent—potentially just a few years away—and the evaluation and learning curve should be started now if you have problems with new ideas for which classical computing has constraints and you want a competitive advantage. Also, quantum computing-inspired algorithms are already starting to have an impact on how we use classical computers!

So, join us for an overview of:


• How quantum computers work

• How they are built and what constraints we must overcome


• How they are programmed, and how this compares to programming classical computers including powerful HPC systems

• Examples of algorithms and problems for which QC will greatly accelerate new, better solutions

• Types of problems for which your company or organization may need quantum computing in the years ahead to achieve discovery, innovation, and competitive advantage

• Real hands-on programming on a working quantum computing system!

Instructors

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Sumit Puri is an IBM Quantum Ambassador and Qiskit Advocate with a passion for quantum computing. He has actively contributed to the open-source Qiskit project, helping to advance the field of quantum programming and computation. As a recognized leader in the quantum community, Sumit is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation in quantum technologies.

Attendance Instructions

All participants must register for this event via Ticketbud. This will be an in-person event held at Capital Factory in the Captain America Room.

Parking information can be found here.

Agenda

​7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

Moderated by Austin Forum executive director Jay Boisseau. In "Digital Empires," Bradford argues that the world is on the cusp of a new era of geopolitical competition, one that will be fought over the control of data and technology. She identifies four digital empires—the United States, China, the European Union, and the United Kingdom—that are vying for dominance in this new realm.

Bradford's book is a timely and important contribution to our understanding of the global competition for technological supremacy, which has tremendous ramifications for national security, global business and economics, data privacy and sovereignty, and much more.  It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the future of technology and its impact on our lives.

Anu Bradford is a professor of law and international relations at Columbia University. She is the author of several books, including "The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World" and "Power in the Global Digital Economy."

Attendance Instructions

Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Moderator

Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he started in 2006 and is now the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and starting to attract national and even international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. Through Vizias, Jay also founded the Austin Smart City Alliance (July 2015, formerly Austin CityUP Consortium) and currently serves as the Executive Director, with a vision of creating an integrated smart city fabric throughout Austin—leveraging mobile devices and IoT data collectors, as well as supercomputers and AI for predictive analytics and scenario simulation—in the years ahead to address city issues, empower city planning, and improve city life in general.

Event Summary

Quantum computing promises the potential to solve tremendously challenging real-world problems that are unaddressable by traditional, or classical, computing machines today, tomorrow, and maybe forever. However, while the principles of quantum mechanics are well understood, building reliable, large-scale quantum computing presents tremendous engineering challenges. Furthermore, discovering optimal quantum computing algorithms and developing effective quantum computing applications is also important if quantum supremacy--or quantum advantage, or quantum value--compared to classical computing is to be achieved. Still, while we're in the early days of quantum computing, there are exciting developments and tantalizing results almost weekly that provide reasons for great optimism (and, unfortunately, hype) that quantum computing systems from one or more vendors will achieve quantum value on useful problems in the very new future--and that more widespread quantum advantage may be achievable in years, not decades. So, the excitement is high and the time is now to learn about this transformational technology and understand how you can best evaluate it for your business, or contribute to its advancement and adoption.

Please join us as quantum computing professionals from several quantum computing companies and labs explain their companies' approaches, results, and directions, and which domains, verticals, and companies/organizations are aggressively pursuing quantum computing for new solutions. Then, mix and mingle with quantum computing experts and enthusiasts to learn more and make relationships that will help you and/or your company track this technology and be among the first to use it for innovation and competitive advantages.

Attendance Instructions

This will be an in-person event held at Capital Factory in the Captain America room, Floor 8.

Parking information can be found here.

Moderators

Scott Aaronson is Schlumberger Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, and founding director of its Quantum Information Center.  He received his bachelor's from Cornell University and his PhD from UC Berkeley.  Before coming to UT Austin, he spent nine years as a professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT.  Aaronson's research in theoretical computer science has focused mainly on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers.  His first book, Quantum Computing Since Democritus, was published in 2013 by Cambridge University Press. He received the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award, the United States PECASE Award, the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics, and the ACM Prize in Computing, and is a Fellow of the ACM and the AAAS.

Kartik Dixit is a seasoned professional currently working within the professional services organization at D-Wave, a leading Canadian quantum computing company. At D-Wave, he contributes to delivering advanced quantum computing solutions that address complex problems across various industries. D-Wave is recognized as the world’s first company to commercialize quantum computers that harness quantum effects.

Before joining D-Wave, Kartik successfully built and divested two consulting firms, each with over 100 consultants, specializing in ERP and GIS solutions for the Oil & Gas sector, State & Local Governments, and mid-sized enterprises. He also served as Director of Operations at the Harris County Flood Control District, where he oversaw all support functions for the organization. Kartik holds a Master of Science in Computer Science. In his spare time, he channels his passion for sustainability and innovation into building energy-efficient custom homes in Houston's inner loop.

As D-Wave Quantum’s senior communications manager, Jenn bring decades of expertise in executive communications, event communications, and customer storytelling with a focus on the business value of cloud, AI, and quantum computing for business. Her career is distinguished by a deep proficiency in leveraging AI for communications and marketing, honed through prior roles in content and communications at both VMware and IBM. Before transitioning to the corporate world, she was a foreign correspondent in Eastern Europe and the Balkans during the 1990s, tracking the impact of technology on a region steeped in transition — growing conversant in a variety of Slavic and Finno-Ugric languages. In her spare time, she is concerned with all facets of spirituality and is working on an M.A. in consciousness studies.

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at ORCA Computing, Thien-An Nguyen spearheads the company’s technological advancements and translates innovative ideas into tangible products. With a robust background encompassing both software and hardware development, Thien-An leverages a couple decades of experience to drive the development of cutting-edge technologies. His expertise lies in shepherding concepts from inception through the phases of prototyping and into full-fledged product realization. Prior to his role at ORCA Computing, Thien-An served as the Vice President of R&D Strategy at GXC, where he led the photonics division in delivering solutions across diverse sectors including AI accelerators, telecommunications, biomedical sensors, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and spectroscopy. His passion for fusing diverse research disciplines fuels his commitment to delivering impactful quantum-enhanced capabilities tailored to address multifaceted challenges across numerous customer industries.

whurley is founder and CEO of Strangeworks, an Eisenhower Fellow, a Senior Member of the IEEE, founder of the Quantum Computing Standards Workgroup at the IEEE, the first Ambassador to CERN and Society, and the co-author of "Quantum Computing For Babies” and the upcoming “Quantum Computing for Dummies” (available for pre-order now). Prior to starting Strangeworks he was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs [NYSE: GS]. He came to Goldman Sachs via the acquisition of his second startup, Honest Dollar. Prior to Honest Dollar whurley founded Chaotic Moon Studios which was acquired by Accenture [NYSE: ACN].

As VP Sales, Industries and Strategic Partnerships at IonQ, Philip Farah is responsible for developing IonQ’s strategic partnerships with a focus on revenue growth and on strengthening IonQ’s position at the center of the Quantum Computing Ecosystem. Prior to joining IonQ, Philip ran Services and Engineering Sales, Global Accounts for Worldwide Technology, a leading systems integrator and IT infrastructure value-added reseller. Philip started his career in the US as a consultant with McKinsey & Co, and has held several leadership roles at Gartner (Senior Managing Partner, Financial Services), Cisco Systems (head of Global FSI Innovation strategy practice), and Capital One Financial (head of Recoveries Analytics).

Wil is founder and CEO of Anametric, Inc. Based out of Austin TX, Anametric has been building Quantum Photonic chips for the cybersecurity market for the last 6 years and their chips are a key part of Leidos’ DARPA QuANET program effort. In addition to Leidos, Anametric also works closely with teams from Southern Methodist University (Dallas TX), the Air Force Research Lab (Rome NY) and the Army Research Lab (Adelphi MD).

As Chief Commercial Officer at Quantinuum, Nash Palaniswamy is responsible for sales, marketing and delivering revenue. He was previously responsible for delivering revenue at Intel's High-Performance Computing and Graphics, and Datacentre and AI groups, and led the task-force that delivered the "heterogenous product roadmap", giving him a highly relevant interest in the enterprise application of hybrid quantum-classical computing. Throughout his career, Nash has held various leadership, strategic and engineering roles and today indulges his passion in artificial intelligence by advising and mentoring a number of small startups. Nash holds three patents and was honored for his contribution to the #1 system in the Top 500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers. He earned his B.S. in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Anna University (India) and holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Cincinnati in Electrical and Computer Engineering (go Bearcats!).

Thierry Pellegrino is the Global head of Advanced Computing at AWS, in this role he oversees HPC, Domain specific ML, IOT and Quantum for the company. In his last role in the industry he was the Senior Vice President and President of Intelligent Platform Solutions at SGH (division which includes Penguin Solutions and Stratus). Prior to joining SGH, he spent over 20 years with Dell Technologies where he was the Head of the HPC and AI business. Thierry held multiple leadership roles in his career from engineering, strategy, M&A, and business leadership and has had the privilege to sit on the board of GRC and Penn State’s ICDS.

Sumit Puri is an IBM Quantum Ambassador and Qiskit Advocate with a passion for quantum computing. He has actively contributed to the open-source Qiskit project, helping to advance the field of quantum programming and computation. As a recognized leader in the quantum community, Sumit is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation in quantum technologies.

Agenda

​7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

Join us for a fascinating discussion of Ray Kurzweil's latest book, "The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge With AI," to be moderated by Mike Ignatowski of AMD. In this compelling follow-up to his groundbreaking “The Singularity Is Near, Kurzweil explores the rapid pace of technological progress and argues that we are rapidly approaching a point where artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence, and be used to augment it. Kurzweil discusses related technologies–nanotechnology, 3D printing, clean energy, biotech–that, together with AI, will transform what it means to be human, and the impact on society. Our minds, bodies, and world are about to change in fundamental ways, within our lifetimes!

Whether you've read the book or not, everyone is invited to attend and participate in this thought-provoking conversation. Mike Ignatowski will guide us through the key ideas and implications of Kurzweil's work, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and questions. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with other curious minds and explore the future of technology and humanity.

Attendance Instructions

Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Moderator

Michael Ignatowski is a Senior Fellow at AMD Research in Austin, where he leads the research work in advanced memory architecture for high performance computers. Mike was involved in AMD’s role in winning the bid for the Frontier Exascale system to be installed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory next year. Before joining AMD 10 years ago, Mike worked at IBM in upstate New York for 27 years in advanced development and research. Mike has a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Michigan State University.

Outside of work, Mike serves on the board for Common Ground for Texans (CG4TX.org), a local group dedicated to promoting civil discourse among diverse communities and seeking common ground solutions toward a healthy democracy. He also serves on the board of 350-Austin, a local chapter of the international 350.org organization dedicated to reducing the threat of climate change. Mike is also the former president of the Central Texas Chapter of the World Future Society.

Event Summary

Join us for a compelling evening at the Austin Forum on Technology & Society as we dive into the world of the silicon industry with our presentation and conversation event, "The Current State, Trends, Challenges, and Future of Chips."

In an era where silicon-based computer chips are the heartbeat of our digital existence, understanding their capabilities and future is crucial. These tiny marvels of engineering power everything from our smartphones and laptops to advanced medical devices and autonomous vehicles. They are instrumental in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change, healthcare advancements, and artificial intelligence.

Our discussion will illuminate the current state of the silicon industry, exploring pivotal trends and future directions. We will examine the societal and national security implications of this critical technology, recognizing how advancements and vulnerabilities in chip design can influence global stability and innovation.

With Moore's Law—a guiding principle predicting the doubling of transistors on a chip approximately every two years—facing increasing challenges, innovative chip companies are pioneering new methods to push the boundaries of what’s possible. From advanced semiconductor materials to quantum computing, exciting new directions are emerging to sustain and propel the industry forward.

Join industry experts and thought leaders as they present insights into the breakthroughs shaping the future of computer chips and engage in a lively conversation about how these advancements will impact our daily lives and the broader landscape of technology and society.

Highlights of the Event

• Current State and Trends: An overview of the silicon industry's evolution and its role in modern technology.

• Challenges to Moore's Law: Insight into the limitations of traditional chip scaling and the innovative approaches being explored.

• Societal and National Security Implications: Discussion on how chip technology affects global security and societal progress.

• Future Directions: Exploration of groundbreaking advancements and potential new frontiers in chip technology.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the silicon industry's pivotal role and future prospects. Engage with experts, ask questions, and be part of the conversation that shapes the next wave of technological innovation.

Speakers

Michael Ignatowski is a Senior Fellow at AMD Research in Austin, where he leads the research work in advanced memory architecture for high performance computers. Mike was involved in AMD’s role in winning the bid for the Frontier Exascale system to be installed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory next year. Before joining AMD 10 years ago, Mike worked at IBM in upstate New York for 27 years in advanced development and research. Mike has a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Michigan State University.

Outside of work, Mike serves on the board for Common Ground for Texans (CG4TX.org), a local group dedicated to promoting civil discourse among diverse communities and seeking common ground solutions toward a healthy democracy. He also serves on the board of 350-Austin, a local chapter of the international 350.org organization dedicated to reducing the threat of climate change. Mike is also the former president of the Central Texas Chapter of the World Future Society.

Eric is currently a Fellow in the Research division at Arm in Austin, TX leading the systems research group. The group's activities include exploring the place of Arm within data centers, network infrastructure, high performance computing, distributed systems, edge computing, and investigating next-generation concepts in security, operating systems, runtimes, and systems software.

He was a research staff member in the Future Systems Department at IBM's Austin Research Lab. Over nearly twelve years at IBM, he has worked on low-power dense server and network processor appliance blades, DRAM power management, full system simulation, high performance computing, hypervisors, and the Linux operating system. Before coming to IBM, he worked for four years at Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories on the Plan 9 and Inferno operating systems.

Thomas is an entrepreneurial executive bringing more than 35 years of hands-on technical and business leadership in semiconductor Operations. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Inspire Semiconductor bringing to market a RISC-V based accelerator that will disrupt the HPC, AI, & blockchain applications. Previously he was the VP of Operations for Eta Compute and developed an ultra-low power solution for energy constrained AI applications. Prior to that he led the Operations teams for several successful startup companies including, Uhnder, Bluetechnix (acquired by Becom), Black Sand Technologies (acquired by Qualcomm), Luminary Micro (acquired by Texas Instruments) and Oak Technology (acquired by Zoran). He began his career as a product engineer at Motorola Semiconductor who supplied the MC68000 microprocessor for the very first Apple Macintosh. Thomas graduated with honors with a technical degree from DeVry University and is a graduate of the Motorola Management Institute.

Attendance Instructions

In-person

Join us at the ACC Rio Grande: Center for Government & Civic Service where you will be checked in at the front. Parking map here!

In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and food. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

Virtual

Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the virtual link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Agenda

​7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

We're shifting gears with a timely and gripping speculative fiction novel that explores a near-future scenario, where the consequences of emerging technologies, deepening wealth disparities, and related societal issues have led to a dystopian reality. Naomi Alderman's "The Future" is a masterful blend of entertainment, suspense, and intellectual curiosity, offering a rich foundation for a stimulating conversation about the profound impact of technology on our society and future. The novel explores themes of power dynamics, gender roles, control, and the impact of technology on society and our environment. Designer and facilitator Jennifer "Houli" Houlihan will provide a concise and insightful overview of the book, followed by a lively guided discussion. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with fellow readers, share perspectives, and explore the critical role technology plays in shaping our collective future. Don't miss this thought-provoking summer evening event!

Attendance Instructions

Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Moderator

Houli serves as Director, Product Management & Design Workforce Training Programs at Austin Community College, and teaches the product management and design track in the accelerator for the Army Software Factory (US Army Institute for Software Development). She also runs Austin Design Jam, a free monthly meetup for an engaged group of designers and doers working to make change in their communities. Houli also facilitates design sprints and workshops for government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Previously, she served as senior lead instructor in the User Experience Design Immersive program at the Flatiron School and at General Assembly. 

Houli has served as Managing Director of the Austin Forum on Technology & Society and as Managing Director of Austin Smart City Alliance, a consortium of companies, organizations, and individuals collaborating to advance Austin through digital technologies, data collection, analytics, and modeling.  Additionally, she served for five years as executive director and chief lobbyist for Austin Music People, the trade association for Austin’s $2 billion music industry. She is a certified facilitator and an award-winning public speaker and writer, with recent appearances at ProductCamp, Control the Room, Austin Design Week, Hire Women Week, and AIGA Changemakers.

Event Summary

Quantum computing is a new kind of computing that leverages the properties of subatomic particles—quantum physics—to enable potentially tremendous computational power. While we have learned to build very powerful ‘classical’ computing systems by harnessing the properties of electrons and semiconductor materials, quantum computing systems are quite different, and ‘weird,’ because they are based on non-classical physics including superposition and entanglement of these subatomic particles. If this seems confusing, remember that most people don’t know how classical computers work either—and yet we all use them every day. In this extended lecture, we will cover how classical computers work, provide an overview of quantum physics, and then explain how quantum computers work and why they are so potentially powerful. We will then discuss the kinds of problems that require this kind of computational power—including some that will likely never be solvable with classical computers—and share what industries and companies are investing in this technology *now* to ensure they are leaders in innovation in the coming years. We will also talk about the quantum cryptography problem and solutions, the national interests in global competition and the market, and the timeline—as best we know it now! 

So, if you’re quantum curious and/or want to understand whether your company should start paying attention now, join us for this extended lecture on quantum computing! You may also consider reading “Quantum Computing For Dummies” in advance, or (for the bold/mathematically skilled, “Dancing with Qubits” (though we will not dive that far into the mathematics, and none is required to get most of the benefits of this lecture.)

(This is an updated version of an extended overview talk given by Jay Boisseau in January 2024, and will be followed by a class on programming quantum computers in October 2024.)

Presenter

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Event Summary

Join us for an engaging conversation with some of Austin's leading Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) as they share their invaluable insights and recommendations on the critical processes of identifying and evaluating technology opportunities, deciding which technologies to develop or adopt, and measuring the impact of new technologies. This dynamic discussion will dive deep into technology leaders' strategies to keep their companies and organizations innovative, competitive, and maximally productive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Key discussion points will include how to develop, execute, monitor, and revise a technology strategy; how to determine when to pursue new technology development opportunities and when to adopt emerging technologies; how to obtain buy-in on seemingly risky technology decisions from C-suite and staff; and how to make sure the organization embraces and is prepared for these new technologies.

This event is essential for anyone involved in technology decision-making, from executives and managers to IT professionals and innovators. Register now to secure your spot and be part of this informative and interactive session!

Attendance Instructions

You will be checked in at the front desk of the Austin Central Library event space. Parking information can be found here. Please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and food. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

Presenters

A  serial CTO in Austin, Tom was most recently Morgan Stanley’s Chief Strategy Officer for Retirement Plan Solutions.  Before that, he co-founded Honest Dollar with whurley and Anthony Bunnell, which was then acquired by Goldman Sachs.  Tom was also CTO of StoredIQ, pivoting that company from services to software, then acquired by IBM. 

Tom was recruited as CTO of BMC Software, where he drove BMC’s integrated Business Service Mgmt strategy.  As Entrepreneur in Residence at Kleiner Perkins, he worked with portfolio companies as a fractional CTO/VP of Engineering. Tom’s first CTO role was at Tivoli Systems, helping Tivoli grow from 80 to 4,000 employees, helping take the company public, and then through its acquisition by IBM. Tom began his career at Bell Labs and holds 14 patents in fault tolerance, distributed computing, and unstructured data management.

Vivian Chu is an American roboticist and entrepreneur, specializing in the field of human-robot interaction. She is the Chief Technology Officer at Diligent Robotics, a company she co-founded in 2017 to create autonomous, mobile, socially intelligent robots.

Bryon Jacob, CTO of data.world, is an experienced leader in the Austin tech community with a career spanning over 20 years. He has held leadership roles at Trilogy Software, Amazon, and HomeAway (now Vrbo), where he was instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Expedia. Bryon's education in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University, including graduate studies in AI, has fueled his interest in integrating knowledge representation and machine learning. His current endeavor, data.world, aims to revolutionize enterprise-scale data management and integration using advanced technologies in graph databases, AI, and linked data. Bryon is also an active contributor to the tech community, advising several companies and frequently sharing his insights at technology conferences

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Agenda

​7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

We are excited to host an online book discussion of the book "The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis" by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac. Led by moderator Nancy Salisbury, this event promises to delve into the urgent topic of climate change and the pivotal role technology and society play in shaping our collective future. "The Future We Choose" presents a compelling narrative about the critical decisions humanity faces in tackling the climate crisis. Authors Figueres and Rivett-Carnac, both instrumental in negotiating the Paris Agreement, provide a roadmap for action while emphasizing the power of optimism and determination in overcoming this existential challenge.

Through this online book discussion, participants will have the opportunity to explore key themes and concepts from the book, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and share perspectives on how technology can be harnessed to drive positive change. From renewable energy solutions to sustainable urban planning, the conversation will highlight actionable steps individuals, communities, and policymakers can take to mitigate the impacts of climate change and build a more resilient future. Join us for an enlightening discussion that will inspire hope, foster collaboration, and empower attendees to become agents of change in the fight against climate change. Together, let's explore "The Future We Choose" and pave the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.

Attendance Instructions

Online via Google Meet
Once you register via Ticketbud, you will receive the direct link in your confirmation email. You will also receive the link in a reminder email one day before the event.

Moderator

Nancy Salisbury is dedicated to collaborative sustainability efforts, believing in our collective power to create positive change and add value. Nancy is the CEO of ADelta Impact which supports organizations with climate action, sustainability strategies, communication programs, and stakeholder engagement. At St. Edward’s University, Nancy teaches corporate communication, social media, and public relations courses and leads the Environmental Justice Committee’s communication efforts. She is the author of AWARE! 5 Steps to Communicate Sustainability, currently in editing. Nancy champions steadfast optimism and leading with purpose.

Agenda

​6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Discussion

Event Summary

Increased usage of limited resources of carbon-based fuels are creating growing environmental and societal challenges around the world. Join us for a meetup for people working or interested in sustainability and climate technologies. This meetup is open to all and will have sustainable and climate tech professionals serving as facilitators to encourage introductions and conversations, and to summarize recommendations and action items discussed throughout the evening.

Attendance Instructions

Join us in person at the St. Edwards University Library.

Parking Information

1. Park in Lot F or C (both are next to the library).

2. Use this link for parking validation.

3. Enter code: Meetup

4. Once you have filled out the information and clicked “Start” you will receive confirmation that you have registered for event parking.

5. Vehicle registration for this event allows parking in Faculty (black), Standard (green), and Economy (yellow).

PANELISTS

Patricia Baumhart is an Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone Strategist focused on emerging tech, Patricia served on leadership teams at SGI, Accenture and PwC and helps lead efforts in Intelligent Infrastructure for autonomous and AI systems. Patricia will speak on how new approaches in leveraging AI, technology and Intelligent Infrastructure can sustainably build stronger and more connected communities.

Savannah Bush is a strategic partnerships associate at Climeworks where she supports the firm’s commercial growth, scoping, and research to facilitate rapid scale-up of climate solutions. Her unique perspective is shaped by a depth of experience in oil and gas operations, decarbonization strategy, and energy economics. Prior to joining Climeworks, Savannah served as a consultant at Adamantine Energy, a boutique advisory firm developing sustainability and decarbonization strategies for oil and gas companies. Here, she learned first-hand the pressures facing traditional energy companies, and how carbon removal technology can help bridge the gap in reaching climate goals. Savannah is passionate about securing the role of Generation Z in our energy future and serves on the leadership board of the Young Pipeline Professionals organization as community chair. Savannah holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration and environmental science from Emory University. Climeworks empowers people and businesses to fight climate change by permanently removing CO2 from the air with direct air capture technology.

Sylvie has a passion for helping companies transform their business and implement sustainability strategies to find new opportunities for success: to generate efficiency, cost savings and future-proof their business. She helps companies engage with all their stakeholders to understand their expectations and foster collaboration. She helps promote and communicate companies’ commitments to ESG (Environmental Social Governance) and their achievements. She knows how to bring people together and drive the success of cross-functional complex projects. She has a Master's in Marketing Strategy and recently graduated from the ClimateBase fellowship program as well as the OnePointFive Academy in Sustainability consulting.

Roy Johnson is a certified arborist and Sustainability Coordinator at St. Edward's University, managing the campus tree plan and serving on the Tree Campus USA committee.  Roy is leading the use of fiber optic sensors to measure minute changes in temperature and moisture levels within individual trees. The data gathered can reveal how trees are responding to different climate factors such as temperature fluctuations, drought, and excessive rainfall. 

Aamar is the founder of Modgarden. Once a Wall Street banking professional with roles ranging from iBanking to Technology Management Aamar found himself stuck and sick from his life and food.  To address his health crisis, Aamar channeled his years spent in banking into an entrepreneurial solution to his own problem.

Joanna helps lead product development at Regrow Ag, a science and tech company helping consumer products and agriculture brands measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet their climate goals. Her expertise is in GHG emissions data from global environmental systems like crop land, pastures, grazing operations, etc. Prior Joanna spent much of her career consulting food and agriculture brands on product development and innovation.

Nancy Salisbury is dedicated to collaborative sustainability efforts, believing in our collective power to create positive change and add value. Nancy is the CEO of ADelta Impact which supports organizations with climate action, sustainability strategies, communication programs, and stakeholder engagement. At St. Edward’s University, Nancy teaches corporate communication, social media, and public relations courses and leads the Environmental Justice Committee’s communication efforts. She is the author of AWARE! 5 Steps to Communicate Sustainability, currently in editing. Nancy champions steadfast optimism and leading with purpose.

Event Summary

The urgency of addressing climate change has never been more pressing. From extreme weather events to the strain on our power grids, the impacts of climate change are undeniable—and human progress is a significant contributor. But amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for innovation and transformation. Join us for an enlightening panel presentation with several climate tech innovation experts, who will offer a comprehensive overview of the causes, risks, and potential solutions to the climate crisis.

Delving into the realm of emerging technologies, the panel will illuminate how groundbreaking innovations are poised to mitigate and avert the worst impacts of climate change. From renewable energy breakthroughs to cutting-edge sustainability solutions, attendees will gain valuable insights into the transformative power of technology in combatting climate change.

But the conversation won't stop there. The panel experts will provide actionable recommendations for individuals, communities, and stakeholders, outlining a clear pathway for collective action. Whether you're a technologist, entrepreneur, or investor, this presentation will inspire you to contribute to the development of much-needed solutions and shape a more sustainable future for generations to come. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the solution. Join us as we explore the challenges, solutions, and emerging technologies in the fight against climate change, and learn how you and/or your company can join the fight.

Attendance Instructions

You will be checked in at the front desk of the Austin Central Library event space. Parking information can be found here. Please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and food. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!

Panelists

Jacob Borgeson is the Product Marketer and Co-founder of Austin Climate Innovation Collective. Jacob has worked at building companies as a product marketer, product manager, and thought leader in a variety of industries in Austin for over a decade. He has picked up a wide perspective while keeping climate change at the front of his mind while working in semiconductors, logistics, collaboration, marketing, government contracting, and community. Jacob enjoys building communities and solutions around big problems. He is an avid Austin FC fan, father of 2 young kids, and aspiring pillar of the community. For over a year, Jacob has been partnering with Palm Venture Studios to help grow the Austin Climate Innovation community through a partnership with Palm Venture Studios by hosting monthly gatherings and discussions around core climate challenges, connecting experts, founders, and investors in the space to help make Austin a hub for climate tech.

James Gray is the founder of Seren Labs, the data platform for discovering breakthrough companies and emerging trends in climate tech. Seren Labs combines thousands of data signals from industry and research networks to identify solutions that are gaining traction and ready to scale. Prior to Seren Labs, he led go-to-market strategy, enterprise sales, and new product development at data.world and SpareFoot.  He’s an Emergent Ventures Fellow,  co-founder of the Austin ClimateTech Coffee Meetup, and a passionate advocate for establishing Texas as the next major hub for climate technology and research.

Sylvie has a passion for helping companies transform their business and implement sustainability strategies to find new opportunities for success: to generate efficiency, cost savings and future-proof their business. She helps companies engage with all their stakeholders to understand their expectations and foster collaboration. She helps promote and communicate companies’ commitments to ESG (Environmental Social Governance) and their achievements. She knows how to bring people together and drive the success of cross-functional complex projects. She has a Master's in Marketing Strategy and recently graduated from the ClimateBase fellowship program as well as the OnePointFive Academy in Sustainability consulting.

Margaret Morales is the director of carbon at GreenBiz Group. She has over a decade of experience in climate policy, communications, and project development. Before GreenBiz, she led the marketing and communications team at forest carbon project developer Terraformation. She also launched the research program on natural carbon capture in working lands for the climate policy think tank Sightline Institute. She holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Duke University and a master's degree from the University of British Columbia.

David J. Neff is a senior-level executive, Venture Capitalist, and serial entrepreneur, who has 23 years of creating experiences that impact consumers' lives across roles in software development, digital product, and strategy.

Currently, he serves as a Partner at Ecliptic Capital where he works with portfolio companies on people, process, marketing, strategy, and culture. He spearheads the fund’s concentration on climate change and energy transition as part of Ecliptic Capital’s Deep Tech thesis.

Dr. Michael E. Webber, a distinguished figure in energy resources, is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the CTO of Energy Impact Partners, a leading cleantech venture fund. Formerly serving as the Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE in Paris, his expertise lies in engineering, policy, and commercialization, particularly in innovation, energy, and the environment. He authored "Power Trip: The Story of Energy" and created an award-winning companion series. With numerous publications and patents to his name, he's a Fellow of ASME and a member of the Presidential Leadership Scholars. An entrepreneur and educator, he co-founded DISCO Learning Media. Holding degrees from UT Austin and Stanford University, he's been recognized for his teaching prowess and contributions to industrial ecology.

Event Summary

Join us for an important online discussion on the book "Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America" by Barbara McQuade. This discussion is open to all and will be moderated by Austin Forum executive director Jay Boisseau.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, the pervasive spread of disinformation has emerged as a profound challenge, undermining truth and trust in society. Barbara McQuade's book delves deep into the mechanics of how disinformation campaigns are orchestrated and their detrimental impact on social cohesion and political discourse. By examining real-world scenarios and the strategic manipulation of information, McQuade illustrates how disinformation fosters division and erodes support for critical societal issues.

This book discussion is crucial for anyone interested in understanding the stakes of living in an information-compromised world and the steps we can take to counteract these influences. Whether you are a technologist, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this discussion will provide valuable insights into how we can fortify our communities against the corrosive effects of disinformation. Please sign up, read the book, and join the discussion to explore how we can collectively build a more informed and resilient society. Your participation in the discussion enriches your understanding and contributes to a broader societal effort to combat the threats posed by disinformation.

Moderator

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Event Summary

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), after decades of planning, has finally launched and is fulfilling its destiny of revolutionizing all areas of astronomy. The telescope was built with the primary science goal of observing the “First Light in the Universe”. The early universe is ripe with exciting questions - when did the first galaxies form? What were they like? How did the first super-massive black holes form? Data from JWST is now answering these questions, and providing new puzzles. Our speaker, Steven Finkelstein of the University of Texas, will describe why we are so curious about the early universe, highlight the exciting technological achievements represented by JWST, and highlight some of our early findings. He will conclude by describing the Giant Magellan Telescope, now being constructed in the foothills of the Chilean Andes, which will be one of the largest ground-based telescopes upon completion early in the next decade.

Speaker

Steven Finkelstein is a Professor and the Isabel McCutcheon Harte Centennial Chair in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as the Director of the Cosmic Frontier Center. He grew up in Seattle, and received a bachelor's of science in physics and astronomy from the University of Washington in 2003 and a Ph.D. in physics from Arizona State University in 2008. From 2008-2011, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, followed by a Hubble Fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin in 2011, where he became faculty in 2012. His research focuses on the discovery and characterization of the most distant galaxies in the universe, with an emphasis on studying their evolution from that distant epoch to today.  He is a leader in the observational discovery of very distant galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope, and followup observations of these galaxies with the world’s largest ground-based telescopes.  He is married to Dr. Keely Finkelstein, who is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the department, and they have a 14 year old son and 10 year old daughter together. 

Event Summary

The boom in generative AI awareness and usage has stoked public interest in how realistic AI-generated content can be—and whether it can be detected as AI or not. This recalls the Turing test, first posed by Alan Turing as the 'imitation game,' about whether an AI can demonstrate behavior so intelligent that it is indistinguishable from real human behavior. In the 2014 science-fiction movie “Ex Machina,” one of the main characters develops an AI (in this case, in a robot form) and asks another of the main characters to evaluate whether it passes this test. So, now is a fantastic time to rewatch “Ex Machina” and explore how close we may be to AIs that can pass as human. Join us as we rewatch this amazing film, and stay for Q&A with AI experts who will answer your questions and provide their expertise and insights on the realism in this movie and the possibilities of AI that can routinely pass the Turing test—and what that might mean for human and society.

Panelists

Maggie Engler is a technologist and researcher focused on mitigating abuses in the online ecosystem. Currently, she is working on the safety of large language models at Microsoft AI. Previously, Maggie worked on developing machine learning for policy enforcement at Twitter, on detecting and demonetizing online disinformation at Global Disinformation Index, and on user behavior at Duo Security. She has also been a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin teaching human-centered data science. Maggie holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University with a Notation in Science Communication with distinction and was an Assembly fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Steve is a co-founder of KUNGFU.AI, a category leader in the AI professional services space. He leads the innovation and growth teams at KUNGFU.AI, a management consulting and engineering firm that helps companies define and accelerate AI programs. He has over six years of experience in AI strategy, selling AI services, and leading a rocket science consulting firm in an emergent market. He has an MIT Sloan School of Management certificate in Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy.

Peter's careers include being an entrepreneur, engineer and scientist. His experience includes growing a computer solutions company from zero to a 400-person IPO. In 2001, after several years of intensive research, he co-coined the term ‘AGI’ (Artificial General Intelligence) in 2002 and has since focused on creating advanced, practical AGI systems.

Peter is CEO and Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai, the only company offering a 'Chatbot with a Brain'. The company recently launched a major effort to develop the next generation of their Cognitive AI platform to get to full human-level AGI. Peter also has a keen interest in the inter-relationship between philosophy, psychology, ethics, futurism, and computer science.

Event Summary

Join us for an inspiring evening of discussion about the importance of building genuine, enduring, and trusting business relationships through authentic engagement and effective communication. Brad Englert, longtime technology leader with Accenture, The University of Texas at Austin, and Brad Englert Advisory shares wisdom from decades of professional success in his new book, “Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture Authentic Business Relationships," to help other professionals achieve greater success by focusing on people: "Spheres of Influence" is about creating and sustaining positive, productive relationships with team members, partners, and other people in various professional roles, relationships, and networks. “Spheres of Influence” is an Amazon Bestseller in three categories: Leadership Training, Mentoring & Coaching, and Customer Relations, and should be in the hands of every professional aspiring to create happiness as well as sustained success. Brad will lead and moderate this online discussion, so please register, read the book (hopefully), and join us for a wonderful evening that will expand your views on professional relationships.

Brad's book is available for order on BookPeople, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Moderator

Brad Englert is an experienced author, advisor, and technologist with over 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors: Accenture for 22 years, including 10 years as a partner, and then The University of Texas at Austin for eight years, including seven years as the Chief Information Officer. Brad is the founder of Brad Englert Advisory. 

Event Summary

Misinformation and, more worryingly, disinformation, will always be concerns and dangers as long as humans have competing interests and motivations, but technologies have greatly enabled their reach and influence. Smartphones and social media platforms enable essentially everyone to accidentally (misinformation) or intentionally (disinformation) share false information widely--instantly. Generative AI presents great promise for useful work but is itself at risk of misinformation (hallucinations), and can be used to quickly create compelling disinformation--text, audio, images, and even video--that subvert our human inclinations to trust our eyes and ears. Combining quick, compelling generation of false information with quick, widespread sharing of it is a recipe for fueling polarization, and even conflict. Can technologies also come to the rescue and help simplify and even automate the identification of misinformation and disinformation, thus educating and promoting understanding, knowledge, and useful dialogue? How can you, and your business or organization, contribute to better practices and even better technologies to mitigate these dangers and their impact on your life, work, and society?

Join us as Austin Forum executive director Jay Boisseau interviews a panel of experts in technologies, communications, and human behavior to shine a light on the growing risks and dangers, but also on the current best efforts and desired future solutions to improve accuracy and verification! As an added bonus Art Markman will be signing copies of his book "Smart Thinking, Smart Change, Brain Briefs, and Bring Your Brain to Work" before and after the event!

Speakers

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Sarah Brandt is Executive Vice President of Partnerships for NewsGuard, a company that counters misinformation using human intelligence. In that role, she manages NewsGuard's global partnerships with technology platforms, AI companies, ad tech providers, researchers, reputation management companies, and more. Prior to joining NewsGuard, Sarah worked as an Associate Consultant for Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm, after graduating from Yale University. She is based in Austin, Texas.

Art Markman is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology, Human Dimensions of Organizations, and Marketing and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He has written over 150 papers on topics including reasoning, decision making, and motivation. Art brings insights from Cognitive Science to a broader audience through his blogs at Psychology Today and Fast Company as well as his radio show/podcast Two Guys on Your Head. He is the author of several books including Smart Thinking, Smart Change, and Bring Your Brain to Work.

Lindsay is the Product Lead at Starling Lab for Data Integrity, co-founded by the Stanford School of EE and USC. She is in charge of executing and implementing the capture, store, verify technology for authenticity and provenance prototypes. She works on product development and implementations with partners in history, law, and journalism. She is an experienced leader in technical content and growth, who has worked across a wide range of emerging technologies. She has a broad spectrum of expertise in platform development, programming languages, networks and operating systems, test automation, web3, and technical enablement and training, with a foundation in mathematics and computer education.

Event Summary

The recent book "A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains" by Max Bennett is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the nature of intelligence, from its evolutionary origins to its potential future. Bennett draws on philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence to provide a rich and nuanced understanding of this complex phenomenon. As we come towards the end of the Austin Forum’s “AI April,” reading and discussing this book will help us understand more about both human and artificial intelligence, the similarities and differences, and the implications of artificial intelligence for the future of humanity.

This event is open to everyone, as active discussion participants and as passive listeners. Austin Forum executive director Jay Boisseau will provide a summary of the book and moderate a discussion of its key points and main themes. We encourage everyone to read the book in advance (especially for discussion), but it is not required. We look forward to a thoughtful, lively conversation!

Moderator

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Event Summary

The early stages of almost every civilization-changing technology shift tend to be exotic. Mathematicians arrive a few years in to restate early ad-hoc solutions in terms of algebraic objects, joint probability distributions, etc. In other words, evil mad scientists run optimizations and perform risk analysis to inform large capital investments. In the case of the currently popularized notions of "AI" -- i.e., large transformer models with astoundingly improved abilities for sequence-to-sequence learning, diffusion, etc. -- the underlying technology is based on algebraic objects and joint probability distributions, so we can expect the later-stage math to work well.

The world's top firms that dominate online marketing (Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, etc.) have flexed their marketing muscles to jockey for pole positions, asserting claims of dominance in AI. Notable celebrities in the AI game seized this context to grab sensationalized headlines. Such claims -- coming from either end of the "AI Doomers" vs. "Accelerationists" false dichotomy -- have been largely ignorant of even the most basic post-WWII lessons in Philosophy and Poli Sci. To wit, most AI experts and their headline stories could be eviscerated by a first-year Anthropology student. Despite those theatrics, what had been a matter circa 2022 of a "magic eight ball" controlled by cartel-ish deep pockets is rapidly giving way to open-source AI models ascending the Hugging Face leaderboards. This process is quite similar to how energy grids in the US were regularized during the early 20th century. With these transformations, we're beginning to see AI apps flourish in the industry. Moreover, investments in advanced computing now parallel the total technology funding in Project Apollo during 1960-1973, when the US invested $25.8B for the moonshot (~$300B inflation-adjusted in 2024).

In this talk, we'll look into the industry AI apps gaining traction, plus a gentle intro to the advanced math and hardware trends driving cloud economics -- all from jargon-free, intelligible, busy-friend perspectives. TL;DR: "Thar be windfalls."

Speaker

Paco Nathan, Managing Partner at Derwen, Inc., and author of Latent Space, along with other books, plus popular videos and tutorials about machine learning, natural language, graph technologies, and related topics. Known as a "player/coach", with +40 years of tech industry experience, ranging from Bell Labs to early-stage start-ups. Werner Herzog is his spirit animal.

Board member for Argilla.io; Advisor for KUNGFU.AI, DataSpartan; Lead committer on PyTextRank, kglab. Formerly: Director, Community Evangelism for Apache Spark at Databricks. Long, long ago, when the world was much younger, Paco led a media collective/indie bookstore/performance art space / large online community called FringeWare. Beginning in 1992, this was one of the first online bookstores and likely the first commercial use of a chatbot on the Internet.

Event Summary

In an era marked by technological revolution, securing America's leadership in AI, computer chips, critical minerals, biotech and synthetic biology, space tech, and green/renewable energy tech is not just a matter of national pride, but a necessity for global security and prosperity. Renowned national security expert and author of the upcoming new book "World on the Brink" Dmitri Alperovitch emphasizes that these technologies are the foundation of future economic strength, environmental sustainability, and defense capabilities. By championing innovation and ethical progress in these fields, America can pave the way for a stable, thriving world, where technological advancements are harnessed for the greater good, ensuring a secure and prosperous future for all.

Speaker

Dmitri Alperovitch is an internationally recognized thought leader on geopolitics and national security and co-founder and executive chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, a think-tank focused on policy solutions in national security, trade and industrial security, and ecological and economic security.  

He is also the co-founder of the leading cybersecurity company CrowdStrike Inc. Alperovitch serves on the Homeland Security Advisory Council of the Department of Homeland Security and as a founding board member of US Government's Cyber Safety Review Board, and has previously served as a special advisor to the Department of Defense. He has been named in Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Leading Global Thinkers and MIT Technology Review’s Top 35 Innovators Under 35. He is the host of Silverado's Geopolitics Decanted podcast.

Event Summary

AI is everywhere now—in our personal lives and devices, in our work lives and tools, and in healthcare, entertainment, and financial services, everywhere! It may seem complex or daunting, but it is learnable and you can start right now. Join us as we kick off the Austin Forum's "AI April" with an online event available to everyone, designed to help everyone learn about AI and even start using it right away with some hands-on exercises. Joey deVilla is an expert, entertaining presenter with experience helping people get into AI, and he will walk you through the fundamentals, the skills needed, and some examples and short labs to help you gain understanding and confidence. Joey will provide some materials and a 'start project' for people who register ahead of the class so you can really get going and jump in!

Programming Exercise Instructions

Speaker

Meet Joey deVilla, the Thrilla from Manila, currently residing in sunny Tampa with his lovely wife. Formerly a Torontonian, he has worn various hats in the tech industry. As a Senior Developer Advocate at Auth0 by Okta, he champions cutting-edge technologies. Joey's journey includes roles such as a mobile app developer at Lilypad, part of the Fintech landscape, Lead Product Manager at Sourcetoad, and Platform Evangelist at companies like SMARTRAC and GSG. He's been the CTO for Comprehensive Technology Solutions (Define Mobility), a Platform Evangelist for Shopify, and a Developer Evangelist for Microsoft.
Known for his versatility, Joey has also been a Nerd Wrangler at b5media, a Senior Developer at Toronto’s least well-run startup, a Technical Evangelist at Tucows, and even the Supreme Developer at his one-man consulting company, aptly named "His Own Bad Self." In his illustrious career, he served as Director of Developer Relations at OpenCola and Chief Programmer at both datapanik software systems and Mackerel Interactive Multimedia.

Beyond the world of tech, Joey indulges in his passion for music, playing the rock and roll accordion. With a demeanor that resembles Harold and a groove that echoes Kumar, he navigates challenges with finesse and concludes endeavors with unmistakable style. In essence, Joey deVilla is a tech maestro who thrives in chaos and emerges victorious, leaving an indelible mark in every role he undertakes.

Event Summary

Generative AI has fueled a new boom in the awareness, adoption, and usage of AI due to its impressive capabilities to generate accurate text, realistic images, and even high-quality music and video. Its explosive adoption for personal usage is now complemented by fast growth in professional usage: Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and many other companies now offer enterprise-grade generative AI tools for workers. However, this has all occurred so rapidly (just over a year) that people are still learning how these tools work, how to use them most effectively to save time and avoid errors and risk, and what the social and legal responsibilities are. Fortunately, this new book by Numa Dhamani and Maggie Engler will address all of these topics and more, and Numa will lead this Austin Forum online discussion to answer any questions you still have so that you can use these tools most effectively and safely in your companies, organizations, and lives. As always, we encourage everyone to obtain and read the book in advance. For this topic, we also encourage you to try out some generative AI tools and to read more about the societal concerns and opportunities being addressed in so many online news and media sources. This is an exciting topic and there is much to think about, discuss, and debate as we all determine the best way to integrate generative AI tools into our work and lives.

Moderators

​Numa Dhamani is a natural language processing expert with domain expertise in information warfare, security/privacy, and trust and safety. She has advised startups and nonprofits, served as the Principal Investigator on various DARPA programs, and contributed to multiple international peer-reviewed journals. Currently, Numa is a Principal Machine Learning Engineer at KUNGFU.AI. She has previously worked on mitigating abuses in the online ecosystem at Twitter, on counter disinformation efforts at the Global Disinformation Index, on detecting online extremism and influence operations at Yonder, and on developing cutting-edge machine learning solutions at Accenture's Innovation Hub. Numa holds degrees in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.

Maggie Engler is an engineer and researcher currently working on safety for large language models. She focuses on applying data science and machine learning to abuses in the online ecosystem, and is a domain expert in cybersecurity and trust and safety. Maggie has built machine learning systems for malware detection and content moderation, advised start-ups and venture capital firms, and taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information.

Course Description

In this course, participants will learn the fundamental concepts of generative AI, including an overview of existing large language models. They will gain hands-on experience using prompt engineering to tailor the responses of generative AI tools, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, to produce text, code, images, and other creative content. Participants will also be introduced to more advanced tailoring techniques, such as retrieval-augmented generation and model fine-tuning, which allow for even greater control and customization of the AI's output.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the basic concepts of generative AI and how it works

• Learn how to use prompt engineering to tailor the responses of generative AI tools

• Gain experience using generative AI to produce text, code, images, and other creative content

• Explore more advanced tailoring techniques, such as retrieval-augmented generation and model fine-tuning

• Apply generative AI to real-world tasks and projects

** This course description was created by Google’s Gemini generative model.

Instructors

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Luke has spent the last 20 years advancing the state of the art in high performance computing and artificial intelligence through roles in academia, finance, and technology.

In 2005 Luke joined the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and The University of Texas at Austin as a member of HPC research staff and lecturer in the Department of Statistics and Scientific Computation. While at TACC Luke helped in the design, deployment, operations, and programming of more than a dozen Top500 systems from vendors such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, and Cray. In 2016 Luke became Director of Training and Professional Development at TACC and developed the successful and popular TACC Institute Series of week-long training courses in HPC, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, HPC Administration, and HPC Leadership. In 2017 Luke made the move to Dell Technologies, where he served as Chief Data Scientist and Distinguished Engineer for HPC/AI in the Infrastructure Solutions Group. While at Dell Luke led the development and publication of dozens of patents in areas such as infrastructure configuration, cloud computing, and containerization.

In 2022 Luke joined market maker and high-frequency trading firm Optiver as Head of Global Research Infrastructure, where he let a global team advance their computing, storage, networking, and software strategies and deployments. Luke holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has worked on many high-profile projects, including providing data processing support for the Nobel Prize-winning LIGO project and introducing performance and parallel scaling optimizations for early transformer neural networks, paving the way for technologies like GPT-3/ChatGPT. He is the author of more than two dozen peer-reviewed research papers.

Outside of work, Luke enjoys science fiction and superhero movies, classical history and Egyptology, golf, and spending time with his wife and 2 children.

Event Summary

Healthcare is seeing unprecedented innovation due to the recent, rapid advances in several advanced technologies, putting us on the cusp of curing many maladies, extending quality of life, and even lifespan. Join us as Varun Ramdevan of Johnson & Johnson presents how AI, quantum computing, robotics, advanced sensors, and more are transforming healthcare research and practice, and how technologists can collaborate to help accelerate the benefits of transformational health solutions for all. Stay after for networking to meet Varun and discuss how your company may work with J&J (or other healthcare companies) and/or how you may be able to enter this field and contribute most effectively.

Speaker

Varun Ramdevan works in Global Digital Health and Technology Partnerships at Johnson & Johnson Innovation. He has over 8 years of experience in enabling collaborations for digital health, data science, and enterprise technologies for J&J, the world's largest and most diversified healthcare company. He also supports the global expansion of J&J Innovation with a digital innovation strategy, working with incubator networks, crowdsourcing challenge technologies, and partnering capabilities.
In addition to Varun’s role at J&J Innovation, he was a Global Technology Leader at J&J Lung Cancer Initiative and New Ventures, now called J&J Interventional Oncology where he provided chief digital responsibilities for lung cancer and disease prevention, leveraging expertise in data sciences and managing complex technical organizations. Varun is also an investor at OneVenture, a climate and food tech fund, an advisor at MedSchoolCoach, a medical education platform, and an Emerging Leaders Board Member at Kendall Square Association, a network of innovation leaders in Boston. Through these roles, Varun pursues his passion for driving innovation and transformation in the healthcare industry, with a focus on improving patient outcomes, enhancing access, and creating value.

Event Summary

This Austin Forum book discussion will discuss the insights and forward-looking ideas presented in Max Tegmark's thought-provoking work, "Life 3.0." Attendees will engage in a exploration of artificial intelligence, its potential impact on humanity, and the ethical considerations associated with the development of superintelligent machines. We will discuss Tegmark's vision of possible futures, including the concept of multiple "paths" that AI development could take. Participants will also share their own insights on creating conscious machines, the role of humans in shaping AI's trajectory, and the ethical dilemmas posed by advanced artificial intelligence. We expect a dynamic exchange of ideas and that participants will develop an increased awareness of the complex and fascinating intersection between technology and the future of life.

As with all Austin Forum online book discussion events, we encourage everyone to read the book in advance. It is not required to attend, and listeners are also welcome. but conversation is greatly enhanced when the majority of attendees have read the book.

Moderator

Michael Ignatowski is a Senior Fellow at AMD Research in Austin, where he leads the research work in advanced memory architecture for high performance computers. Mike was involved in AMD’s role in winning the bid for the Frontier Exascale system to be installed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory next year. Before joining AMD 10 years ago, Mike worked at IBM in upstate New York for 27 years in advanced development and research. Mike has a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Michigan State University.

​Outside of work, Mike serves on the board for Common Ground for Texans (CG4TX.org), a local group dedicated to promoting civil discourse among diverse communities and seeking common ground solutions toward a healthy democracy. He also serves on the board of 350-Austin, a local chapter of the international 350.org organization dedicated to reducing the threat of climate change. Mike is also the former president of the Central Texas Chapter of the World Future Society.

Event Summary

SXSW 2024 is almost here, filling our city with tremendous creative energy, passion for impact, and opportunities to learn, network, and meet future collaborators. This year’s tech program is the largest ever, with a week-long huge program featuring hundreds of thought leaders, innovators, creators, and technology experts on topics ranging from AI and quantum computing to transportation and climate/sustainability tech to UX design and content creation—and much, much more. Keynotes, panels, workshops, meetups, mentor sessions, book readings, and other formal presentations and events will be complemented by activations, networking events, and countless other opportunities to learn, share, network, and be inspired. It’s impossible to drink it all in, but you can have a plan that helps maximize your SXSW experience—and we’re here to help! Join us for a meeting just 3 weeks before SXSW 2024 starts to hear from SXSW Co-President and Chief Programming Office about the many opportunities to learn, share, and network at SXSW 2024, plus his personal favorites and his tips for creating your own ‘best’ plan and how to take advantage of SXSW even if you do not have a badge. Then, network with other techies and SXSW registrants to hear additional ideas on what great content is coming to town and what to see, prioritize, and experience. Join us for a great meetup with passionate, creative techies, and leave with a plan—and even more motivation!

Speaker

Hugh Forrest is Chief Programming Officer for SXSW. He oversees content for the SXSW Conference, as well as the Music Festival, Film Festival and EDU aspects of the program. Hugh was named “Austinite of the Year” in 2012 by the Austin Chamber of Commerce and in 2014, he and other SXSW Directors were named Austin Entrepreneurs of the Year by Ernst & Young. He recently received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kenyon College, his alma mater.

Beyond SXSW, he has served on the National Advisory Board for the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is part of the Board of Directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Austin-based accessibility company Knowbility. Before joining the SXSW team, he founded The Austin Challenger and wrote for several other newspapers and publications.

Event Summary

Want to understand the fundamentals of AI, what it can and cannot (yet) do, when to use different AI techniques, and for what kinds of use cases? If so, join us for the fast-paced introduction to AI in which we go from first principles to hands-on examples (bring your laptop to get maximum value from this workshop). No AI or programming experience is required, but be prepared to learn fast!

*This is identical to the workshop offered in December 2023 and is being offered again because requests to attend greatly outpaced the seating availability. This class will be limited to ~50 participants. If you sign up but later realize you cannot attend, please release your signup. Thanks!

Moderators

Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia. For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Luke has spent the last 20 years advancing the state of the art in high performance computing and artificial intelligence through roles in academia, finance, and technology. In 2005 Luke joined the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and The University of Texas at Austin as a member of HPC research staff and lecturer in the Department of Statistics and Scientific Computation. While at TACC Luke helped in the design, deployment, operations, and programming of more than a dozen Top500 systems from vendors such as IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, and Cray. In 2016 Luke became Director of Training and Professional Development at TACC and developed the successful and popular TACC Institute Series of week-long training courses in HPC, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, HPC Administration, and HPC Leadership.

In 2017 Luke made the move to Dell Technologies, where he served as Chief Data Scientist and Distinguished Engineer for HPC/AI in the Infrastructure Solutions Group. While at Dell Luke led the development and publication of dozens of patents in areas such as infrastructure configuration, cloud computing, and containerization. In 2022 Luke joined market maker and high-frequency trading firm Optiver as Head of Global Research Infrastructure, where he let a global team advance their compute, storage, networking, and software strategies and deployments. Luke holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has worked on many high-profile projects, including providing data processing support for the Nobel Prize-winning LIGO project and introducing performance and parallel scaling optimizations for early transformer neural networks, paving the way for technologies like GPT-3/ChatGPT. He is the author of more than two dozen peer-reviewed research papers.

​Outside of work, Luke enjoys science fiction and superhero movies, classical history and Egyptology, golf, and spending time with his wife and 2 children.