Artificial intelligence may be humanity’s most formidable double-edged sword. Many have expressed their fears of catastrophic consequences, but AI’s potential as a positive force is undeniable. This October, the White House Frontiers Conference brought national AI experts to Pittsburgh to speak on the challenges and benefits of the field.

In mid-November, the team managing the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE will visit Pittsburgh to engage with Pittsburgh’s innovation community, encourage participation in the competition, and to explore opportunities to establish more cooperative partnerships. We invite you to join our keynote event on Thursday, November 17, 5:30-8:30pm at UPMC Enterprises(6425 Penn Ave, #200), to learn more about the competition, and hear from key leaders on the cutting edge of AI research and enterprises. Tickets available here.

XPRIZE, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is the global leader in designing and implementing innovative competition models to solve the world’s grandest challenges. Through multi-million dollar competitions on topics ranging from robotic space exploration to oil cleanup, XPRIZE has spent the last 20 years challenging entrepreneurs, researchers, and dreamers around the world to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In June, they launched the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE, a $5 million challenge with the broadest competition parameters to date. Participating teams define their own goals around global challenges, and have 3.5 years to develop their best AI solutions. Among many other benefits, the winner will be invited to speak on stage at TED 2020. Visit ai.xprize.org for competition details and more information. (Registration deadline is January 15, 2017. Early registration ends November 15, 2016, but event attendees will receive extended early registration benefits.)

Featured Speakers

Amir Banifatemi, Prize Lead, IBM Watson AI XPRIZE
Prior to joining XPRIZE, Mr. Banifatemi began his career at the European Space Agency and then held executive positions at Airbus, AP-HP and the European Commission division for information society and media. He managed two venture capital funds and contributed to the formation of more than 10 startups with emphasis on Predictive Technologies, IoT, and Healthcare.

Andrew Moore, Dean, CMU School of Computer Science
Andrew W. Moore, a distinguished computer scientist with expertise in machine learning and robotics, became dean of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science in August 2014. He had previously served as a professor of computer science and robotics before taking a leave of absence to become founding director of Google’s Pittsburgh engineering office in 2006.

Adam Berger, Executive VP & CTO, UPMC Enterprises
As CTO, Adam oversees the technology development supporting UPMC’s new business development and investment activities. He also manages the architecture, engineering, and client services teams on projects across all Enterprises’ focus areas: clinical tools, population health, consumer-centric health care, and business services and infrastructure.

Diane Litman, Professor of Computer Science, University of Pittsburgh
Diane Litman is Professor of Computer Science, Director of the Graduate Program in Intelligent Systems, and Senior Scientist with the Learning Research and Development Center, all at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Litman’s current research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of educational technology through the use of natural language processing techniques.

Steve Smith, CEO, Rapid Flow Technologies
Steve Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Rapid Flow Technologies, and was principal investigator during the development of Surtrac. He is also a research professor and director of the Intelligent Coordination and Logistics Laboratory in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

Jeff Schneider, Machine Learning Engineering Lead, Uber ATC
Dr. Jeff Schneider is the engineering lead for machine learning at Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center, and is on leave from CMU as a research professor in the school of computer science. He has 20 years experience developing and applying machine learning algorithms in government, science, and industry. He has over 100 publications and regularly gives talks and tutorials on the subject.

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Moderator: Dutch MacDonald, President & CEO, MAYA Design
Dutch MacDonald, President and CEO of MAYA Design, leads a highly-skilled, interdisciplinary team that works at the intersection of complex, information-rich technology and human experience. Dutch is key in maintaining MAYA’s unique culture among a rapidly changing world, preserving the curiosity, engagement, and passion that drives employee happiness and productivity levels.