AI Impact Summit Agenda: AI Impact Summit

The Newsweek AI Impact Summit stands apart in a crowded AI conference landscape. This 3-day Summit brings together diverse leaders — from tech innovators to C-suite executives, policymakers to ethicists — to share insights on how organizations can most effectively harness the power of AI to achieve their goals. Through curated panel discussions and fireside chats, we explore best practices in AI implementation, addressing challenges like ethical deployment, workforce adaptation, and regulatory compliance. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for integrating AI into their operations, enhancing decision-making processes, and driving innovation.

Two Worlds of AI: To Buy or Build

Pavilion

When should an organization create an AI implementation in house and when should they outsource it? Where do partnerships with AI suppliers fit in the grand scheme? Learn the best practices and tips on when each is the better approach and ways to move forward.

Moderator:

Marcus Weldon, Newsweek Contributing Editor for AI and President Emeritus of Bell Labs

Speakers:

Melody Ayeli, Senior Director, Enterprise AI, Toyota Motor North America

Vickram Kooblall, CIO and Chief Information Security Officer, Scahill Law Group

Raj Pai, VP, AI Product, Google Cloud

Pavilion

Join Ancestry's CTO for an illuminating discussion on our AI journey—from developing proprietary technologies over 10 years ago that scaled the world's largest family history collection to delivering cutting-edge generative AI experiences directly to customers. Discover how Ancestry's practical AI applications in handwriting recognition, computer vision, and predictive machine learning have revolutionized content digitization and product experiences. Learn how Ancestry is leveraging AI to create new innovative features and transforming customer interactions with generative AI applications, that expand their customers' capabilities to uncover even more discoveries like never before.

Moderator:

Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek Nexus

Speaker:

Sriram Thiagarajan, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Product & Technology, Ancestry.com

AI in Motion: Designing for Driving the Future

Pavilion

From autonomous vehicles to delivery robots, AI is driving a transformation in mobility, with design at the heart of how it is experienced. Discover how AI is shaping the future of movement through the systems it powers, allowing designers to create more intelligent, responsive, and human-centered experiences. Hear how two creative leaders collaborate with AI as a design tool and as a subject, reimagining mobility from the sidewalk to the highway, and everywhere in between.

Moderator:

Chuck Martin, Contributor, Newsweek

Speakers:

Paul Ferraiolo, Director, Strategy & Partnering, LA Studio |DesignWorks, a BMW Company

MJ Chun, Co-Founder, Vice President of Product Design, Serve Robotics

Pavilion

The era of AI has brought about profound changes in the way organizations and employees operate everyday. What was once small scale experimentation is now becoming foundational technology driving tangible business value and societal impact for startups and large enterprises alike. This session will explore how organizations in every industry are successfully deploying the latest models and platforms, overcoming challenges and fundamentally changing business models and processes -- and what the future holds for AI.

Moderator:
Jennifer Cunningham, Editor in Chief, Newsweek

Speaker:

Francis deSouza, COO, Google Cloud

Industry Knowledge Share Roundtables

Kenwood Ballroom

Roundtables led by industry experts. Use this time to look outside your own industry and get intimate knowledge and inspiration on how to apply lessons learned to your own day to day.

Attendees can choose their own adventure - join the conversation that relates best to your work:

- The AI Paradox: Tech Moves Fast, But Organizations Don’t

AI moves quickly, but many organizations struggle to keep up, not because of technology, but due to outdated processes, rigid beliefs, and old ways of working. In this interactive, peer-to-peer session, we’ll identify hidden blockers undermining your AI readiness. Through guided discussions and peer conversations, you'll identify assumptions that slow down decisions, governance, and execution. Leaders from all backgrounds will leave with clear insights and practical steps to rethink their approach to AI, driving meaningful and lasting change.

Led by: Sonal Naik, Partner, Navigate Corp

- The Future of Generative AI: What’s Next Beyond Chatbots?

Generative AI has already reshaped industries with applications like ChatGPT, but chatbots are just the beginning. This session explores the next frontier of generative AI—from autonomous agents and multimodal models to AI-driven creativity in design, video, and music. We'll dive into real-world use cases that go beyond conversation, discuss the evolving role of AI in decision-making, and examine the ethical, technical, and business challenges ahead. Whether you're a technologist, strategist, or curious observer, join us to discover what’s coming next in the rapidly evolving world of generative AI—and how you can prepare for it.

Led by: Raj Pai, VP, AI Product, Google Cloud and Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek Nexus

Networking Reception & Nexus Connect Meetings

Breezeway Lawn

Unwind with a glass of wine and connect with fellow attendees during your pre-scheduled Nexus Connect meetings—an opportunity to build relationships and spark meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting.

Nexus Connect meetings are built to maximize your event experience. These 1:1 style, pre-scheduled meetings give you guaranteed face time with other attendees, are each 10 minutes long and will take place during designated times throughout the 3 days of the summit. Meetings can be made with all attendees.

Industry Spotlight: The Power of AI in Healthcare

Pavilion

This session will tackle everything from AI governance and regulatory shifts to real-world implementation challenges and success stories: unpacking both the promise and complexity of AI in health care. We will explore explore how AI can be responsibly scaled across hospitals, health systems, and medical groups.

Moderator:

Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek Nexus

Speakers:

Dr. Allen Chang, Clinical Informatics Fellow, UMass Medical

Surya Gummadi, President, Cognizant Americas

Rob Purinton, Chief AI Officer, AdventHealth

Salvatore Viscomi, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, Carna Health

Conversation with Instacart

Pavilion

For more than a decade, Instacart has been at the forefront of online grocery delivery innovation, redefining convenience and access for millions of families. In this fireside chat, we’ll hear from Instacart’s Chief Product Officer Daniel Danker on how the company is leveraging AI to fundamentally change the way families plan, shop, and eat. From AI-powered personalized shopping experiences and predictive savings offers, to building a real-time retail inventory intelligence platform, Instacart’s AI driven tech stack is tailored to deeply serving individual household needs and dietary preferences.

Moderator:

Marcus Weldon, Newsweek Contributing Editor for AI and President Emeritus of Bell Labs

Speaker:

Daniel Danker, Chief Product Officer, Instacart

Pavilion

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just science fiction — it's transforming the way stories are told, films are made, and audiences engage with entertainment. From scriptwriting and casting to post-production and personalized recommendations, AI technologies are revolutionizing the creative and operational sides of the industry.

Moderator:

Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek Nexus

Speakers:

Ben Lock, Director of Production Strategy, Asteria

Eric Shamlin, CEO, Secret Level

AI Intel Networking Break

Pavilion Lawn

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept of the future—it’s transforming the way we work, live, and innovate today. In this high-impact networking session, our sponsors and attendees will showcase their real-world applications of AI across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and creative industries.

Participating companies include: Cognizant, Google Cloud, The Marketing Cloud, City of Denver, EVOM AI Piano, Doctronic, Serve Robotics and Zoom

Pavilion

Whether targeted for upskilling new employees or enhancing the performance of seasoned workers, enterprises face a challenge to get everyone on board with their AI tools. Hear innovative approaches and useful strategies and tactics that can be used in your organization.

Moderator:

Marcus Weldon, Newsweek Contributing Editor for AI and President Emeritus of Bell Labs

Speakers:

Dr. Ashis Barad, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Hospital for Special Surgery

Joydeep Ganguly, SVP Corporate Operations, Gilead Sciences and Board Chair, Gilead Foundation

AI Powered Cities are the Future

Pavilion

Through the broader lens of future cities and urban planning, experts discuss how the use of artificial intelligence is helping them envision what cities of the future and mobility will look like across the globe. Additionally, they examine how AI is helping solve the challenges of those cities, both today and tomorrow using anecdotal evidence from projects they have been involved in.

Moderator:

Chuck Martin, Contributor, Newsweek

Speakers:
Suma Nallapati, Chief Information Officer, City of Denver

Charlitta Hatch, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Deputy Director of Innovation and Technology, City of Charlotte, NC

Kenwood Ballroom

Roundtables led by industry experts. Use this time to look outside your own industry and get intimate knowledge and inspiration on how to apply lessons learned to your own day to day.

Attendees can choose their own adventure - join the conversation that relates best to your work:

- The AI Paradox: Tech Moves Fast, But Organizations Don’t

Led by: Sonal Naik, Partner, Navigate Corp

- Build it or Buy It

As AI becomes a cornerstone of competitive advantage, organizations face a critical question: should you build AI capabilities in-house or buy them off the shelf? This session explores the strategic, technical, and financial trade-offs behind the "build vs. buy" decision in the age of generative AI. Experts will break down key factors including speed to market, data privacy, customization needs, talent availability, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re a startup aiming to integrate AI or an enterprise shaping your innovation roadmap, this session will help you make smarter choices about how to adopt and deploy AI—without getting lost in the hype.

Led by: Vickram Kooblall, CIO and Chief Information Security Officer, Scahill Law Group and Chuck Martin, Contributor, Newsweek

Networking Reception & Nexus Connect Meetings

South Lawn

Agentic AI: The Age of the New Workflow

Pavilion

New systems that think and act on their own on behalf of the user are about to flood the enterprise. Check how these scalable AI-powered assistants can remain secure with the promise of ethical and private behaviors. Hear how leaders from financial institutions to healthcare providers assure AI agents remain ROI focused.

Moderator:

Chuck Martin, Contributor, Newsweek

Speakers:

Sachi Desai, Vice President of AI, Climate (Bayer)

Srini Kandala, CEO, Sears Kairos

The ROI of AI: Practical Measurements of Success

Pavilion

As the days of experimenting with AI evolve to deployments and new applications, investments are becoming more measured with increasing expectations of bottom-line results. See how some savvy companies are tightly linking their pilots and applications to their business objectives.

Moderator:

Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek Nexus

Speaker:

Girish N. Nadkarni, MD, MPH, System Chair, The Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Director, The Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai

Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Enhancing AI Governance, Privacy and Cybersecurity

Pavilion

Both internal and external AI policy are critical components of AI implementation. Hear how leading organizations ensure they are always in line with governance, ethics, and the steps they take to ensure privacy safeguards are in place and how they account for cybersecurity every step of way.

Moderator:

Chuck Martin, Contributor, Newsweek

Speakers:

Benjamin Maxim, Chief Innovation Officer, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union

Rob Teel, CTO, State of Oklahoma

If you are a senior executive and a buy-side/end user individual that is utilizing AI technology (not representing a company that sells AI technology), you may qualify to join us complimentary, as a Newsweek Nexus guest.

As part of this complimentary guest attendance, we would ask you to take part in the below-

Attend the entire duration of the Summit
Be present for all editorial sessions, sponsored events, cocktail hours, networking breaks, etc.
Schedule at least 5 Nexus Connect meetings with peers, partners, or ticketed guests

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