On September 13, 2024, Silicon Valley Leadership Group hosted its second annual Tech and Innovation Summit at Amazon’s East Palo Alto campus. The landmark event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore one of the most transformative forces of our time: artificial intelligence.
The summit, “Igniting Innovation: Driving the Next Tech Revolution,” showcased SVLG’s unwavering commitment to fostering AI innovation, particularly through initiatives like the Institute for California AI Policy (I-CAP).
SVLG CEO Ahmad Thomas kicked off the summit with opening remarks, emphasizing the critical role of responsible AI development in shaping the future of Silicon Valley and beyond. Additionally, Thomas highlighted SVLG’s commitment to shaping policy outcomes that ensure California remains at the forefront of AI development while promoting responsible and equitable deployment.
“We all know that Silicon Valley has long been the hub of innovation, a place where bold ideas take flight and change the world,” said Thomas. “As we come together at this pivotal moment, we also recognize the enormous responsibility that comes with AI’s power.”
Here are three takeaways from the event:
Private-Public Partnerships Can Accelerate AI Innovation: A recurring theme throughout the summit was the critical importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in guiding AI policy. In her virtual address, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in aligning AI development with broader societal goals and values. This perspective was complemented by local insights from San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who highlighted his city’s efforts leading a coalition of municipalities from around the country to responsibly deploy AI tech, while also positioning the City as a hub for AI companies, underscoring the region’s ongoing commitment to fostering this breakthrough technology.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan spoke to federal and local government efforts, respectively, to responsibly deploy AI technology.
AI Use Cases Are Changing Industry: The summit’s “Tech Trend Talks” segment offered a comprehensive overview of AI’s impact across various industries. Leaders from SVLG member companies including Microsoft, Applied Materials, IBM, Blue Shield, and SAP shared valuable insights into how AI is reshaping the future of work, computing, environmental protection, healthcare, and beyond. These talks not only highlighted the vast potential of AI to drive progress and efficiency across sectors but also raised important questions about implementation and societal impact.
Representative Leadership In The AI Industry Is Critical: The summit concluded with a powerful demonstration of women’s leadership in the AI space. The fireside chat between Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz, and Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora, provided valuable insights into the role of women in shaping the future of AI and technology leadership. Through the rest of the year, SVLG’s Women’s Leadership series will continue to facilitate these discussions and elevate the diverse perspectives powering the next wave of breakthrough technologies.
A spotlight session of SVLG’s Women’s Leadership Series, featured Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz, and Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora.
As we move forward, SVLG will continue ongoing dialogue with policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and innovators. Through I-CAP, our member companies will continue to advocate for policies that enable AI’s potential while avoiding pitfalls that could stifle innovation.
This year’s Tech and Innovation Summit demonstrated that by bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering collaboration, we can work towards harnessing AI’s transformative power to create positive change for our society, economy, and the world.
The inaugural ‘unpanel’, “AI: Hype or Hope for the Future,” featuring Joe Hurd of SOSV, Alyssa Simpson Rochwerger of Blue Shield of California, NBC Bay Area’s Scott McGrew, Anne J. Flanagan of the Future of Privacy Forum, and Leila Banijamali of Symbium.
SVLG extends its thanks to our thought leader sponsor, Amazon, to each of the innovator sponsors, SAP, TCS, IBM, and Blue Shield, as well as our transportation sponsor, Uber, for making this event possible. Together, we are shaping the future of AI and ensuring that Silicon Valley and the Bay Area region remain the global hub for the innovation economy.
