On Tuesday, February 25, 2020 over 1,000 business people, policy-makers, community leaders, tech enthusiasts, and curious citizens gathered at Tomorrow’s Talent, the region’s fifth annual workforce and education summit, to focus on how artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies will shape the Louisville region’s workforce and talent pipelines in the years ahead.
The AI & Future of Work Summit, which was hosted at the renovated Kentucky International Convention Center by KentuckianaWorks, Greater Louisville Inc., 55,000 Degrees, and the Greater Louisville Project, came at a time when Louisville is experiencing more momentum around its tech sector than ever.
In 2019, Microsoft and the city launched the Future of Work Initiative, with the goal of making Louisville a regional hub for AI, Internet of Things and data science. The University of Louisville and IBM also created the first-ever IBM Skills Academy where students will develop skills related to AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
“We are clearly seeing a tremendous interest from folks across all of our major regional sectors in how AI and other cutting-edge technologies are starting to impact our world.”
Equity was a common thread running throughout the day-long event. Keynote speaker and Chief Digital Officer at Microsoft US, Jacky Wright called on companies to invest in places and communities that have less access to technology. She also described artificial intelligence as a tool that can “augment our lives for the better” and, if used responsibly, can “help us solve the macro-level problems society is facing.”
Mayor Greg Fischer challenged audience members to bring their skills to Louisville’s tech revolution by getting involved in programs like Code Louisville and Tech Louisville, which provide free training to people in software programming and IT Support.
In the event’s second keynote, Jonathan Arneault, Director of North America SaaS, the Center of Excellence and Go-To-Market Transformation at IBM joined Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, President of UofL, to discuss their new partnership and how AI is specifically impacting higher education.
Other highlights included Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, Chief of Louisville Forward, and Alan Berube, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution presenting a rationale and roadmap for Louisville’s AI Strategic Plan.
Dan Burke, Vice President of Application Development at UPS, illustrated how companies are transforming their operations with advanced technologies and thriving in an increasingly connected world.
UPS: Delivering in the Connected Age
Founders and CEOs of local tech companies, including El Toro, WeatherCheck, V-Soft Consulting, and RCM Brain, discussed how AI is impacting business and entrepreneurship in one of the day’s breakout sessions.
Other breakouts included:
AI and Our Changing Workforce
Equity in the Age of Automation and AI
Preparing Students for the Future of Work
Privacy and Ethics in AI
There was also a tech showcase featuring interactive displays from local companies including Enable.AI, Untitled, Breakpoint Technology, Papa John’s, Brown-Forman, and others.
Tomorrow’s Talent was sponsored by Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, UPS, Humana, Prestige AV & Creative Services, and EdjAnalytics.
See more photos from the event below.
