IBM research leader to deliver keynote at AI chat series

UB’s chat series exploring artificial intelligence’s evolving role in society will continue as representatives from some of the nation’s leading businesses discuss how they are utilizing the technology.

The UB | AI Chat Series event, titled “Exploring the Future of AI for Maximum Industry Impact,” will be held May 31 at the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

It will feature officials from IBM, Linde, Rich Products, Moog and M&T Bank, and include a keynote address by Darío Gil, senior vice president at IBM.

As director of IBM Research, Gil leads more than 3,000 researchers in one of the world’s largest and most influential corporate research labs. He directs innovation strategies in hybrid cloud, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing and exploratory science, among other duties, according to his IBM bio.

Gil will also participate in the event’s panel discussion, to be moderated by Kemper Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Other panelists include:

• Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
• Jose Pinto, director of Linde’s Americas Digital Team.
• Mihir Rajopadhye, chief data and analytics officer at Rich Products.
• George Small, chief technology officer at Moog.
• Chris Tolomeo, senior vice president and head of banking services at M&T.

The event will also include AI research demonstrations featuring UB’s cutting-edge work in medicine, medical devices, climate change, materials science, pharmaceutical science, and computer science and engineering.

The UB | AI Chat Series began last fall and has included discussions with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and others.

It comes as UB plays as increasingly larger role — regionally, nationwide and globally — in pursuing AI for the social good. That includes being home to Empire AI, a $400 million statewide consortium and supercomputing center to be located on the North Campus. Empire AI, which includes SUNY, CUNY, private colleges and universities, and private foundations, is designed to put New York State at the forefront of the AI revolution.