A Day Full of AI Discoveries at the NYT New Work Summit

During lunch at yesterday’s day-long New Work Summit – where leaders from industry, academia and government addressed the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on our world – I was asked an intriguing question by a fellow attendee:

What is the one thing you would like AI to solve in your daily life?

I have worked for years to find new ways in which data, AI and advanced technologies can make our world a better, easier place to live. So, it’s a topic I’ve thought about a lot. The answer for me is clear: I want AI to help free me from my routine or administrative tasks at work and at home, giving me more time for meaningful engagements – both in the office, and at home with my children.

The notion that AI can provide us the opportunity for more meaningful human interaction is one of my key takeaways from the conference, which reinforced the dramatic growth in real-world applications for AI and related, innovative technologies.

While it’s true that – like all great, paradigm-changing innovations – AI may eliminate some jobs, it is also creating new and exciting careers across numerous industries. And it is enabling all of us to be more productive, efficient and satisfied in the jobs we have.

Here are a few insights from a fascinating day of presentations and discussions with some of AI’s leading advocates:

AI is redefining industries. And not just the obvious ones, like manufacturing and healthcare. But, as I was delighted to learn, music is enjoying the effects of AI. Taryn Southern, an artist and digital storyteller, debuted a song and virtual reality video from her latest album, a mashup of lyrics and musical styles she created using AI. Not surprisingly, it’s title is … “I AM AI.” A question from the audience was, has AI made you view music differently? But I think the real question is for all of us: how is what we work on, what we love going to be changed by AI?

AI conversations have gone to the next level. We’re no longer talking ‘what if’? But ‘what is’? Several speakers addressed real-world challenges that didn’t exist a decade ago – such as the responsibility of social media platforms to use AI to ferret out purveyors of ‘fake news.’ And whether AI should be closely monitored by government regulators – which could both protect citizens from bad actors but put the brakes on growth. While AI may contribute to the arrival of some issues, it is – and should be -- also playing a key role in solving them.

Nevertheless, AI is a tool, not a panacea. As one speaker noted, an AI-enabled resource could be programmed to quite effectively play the game of chess – even while the house is burning down. AI on its own will always have its limitations. It’s when the technology is neatly integrated with cognitive human capabilities that its value is truly magnified.

And finally, I’m proud that HPE is an AI facilitator. On several occasions yesterday, speakers discussed their organizations’ AI initiatives – which I proudly recognized as projects that HPE solutions are helping make happen today. But even more exciting for, next year I would love to come back to share some of the research we are doing on novel forms of compute that will supercharge AI, everywhere.

One example mentioned by Michael Kratsios, the Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer, is the U.S. Department of Energy’s exascale supercomputer project. When completed, it will have the ability to run one quintillion calculations per second -- for computer modeling and simulation activities that may one day solve humanity’s most pressing problems. HPE is one of six technology companies involved in its development.

I drove home from the Summit last night (not yet in an autonomous driving vehicle, but some day …) with renewed enthusiasm for the industry- and life-changing enhancements AI is enabling.

What AI innovations are inspiring you these days?