Yale University, Courtesy photo

Highlights From Yale’s Second Annual Responsible AI Conference

The Responsible AI in Global Business Conference at the Yale School of Management (SOM) is quickly becoming the place to be if you care about how technology and ethics collide in the real world. Last year’s inaugural 2024 conference debut was all about getting the ball rolling; it brought people together from business, academia, and government to talk about big-picture stuff like workforce changes and AI’s role in national security. This year, it was bigger, bolder, and for many – inspiring.

At the heart of this event was the student-led AI Association. Under the leadership of co-president Ash Duong, the club pulled off something seriously impressive. “Creating conversations around AI that embrace complexity, and diversity is not just an academic exercise – it’s a necessity for shaping a future where technology serves all people,” says Duong.

CONVERSATIONS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS

With partners like the Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management and the Data & Trust Alliance, plus support from Yale’s Provost (who made sure community members could attend for free), they rallied over 900 attendees – students, alumni, industry pros, and policymakers – for an array of panels and discussions.

One of their most popular sessions this year was the “Designing a New Workforce” panel, where speakers like Amanda Ballantyne from the AFL-CIO and Seeyew Mo from Cyber Workforce, broke down the challenges (and opportunities) AI brings to careers. It’s not about chasing that perfect degree anymore, they told attendees. Adaptable skills are what the industry values. Critical thinking, ethical leadership, and good communication are said to be the must-haves in this new AI-driven world.

“Navigating an AI-driven future isn’t just about technical expertise. It’s about cultivating the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and lead ethically in a rapidly changing world,” adds Duong.

Students had many opportunities to chat directly with industry leaders like Sarah Bird from Microsoft and Jim Swanson from Johnson & Johnson. Another highlight of the conference was John Maeda’s captivating keynote on empathy in AI, which seemingly resonated deeply with attendees.

“Empathy isn’t just a desirable quality –it’s a critical component for designing AI systems that foster trust and effectively address human needs,” Duong said.