I walked into the AI Summit with onerous questions on business maturity, infrastructure challenges, and implementation realities. My earlier protection explored a few of these points in my initial fireside chat analysis and pre-Summit post. Right here’s what I discovered — and what I didn’t discover — throughout 10 key takeaways.
My 10 Takeaways
1. Did the present deal with the above challenges? Largely, no. There have been a couple of classes that talked about the infrastructure, for instance, however none talked concerning the power dangers. The one one which got here shut was one on sovereign AI nevertheless it was primarily a advertising pitch for a supercomputer.
2. So far as the verification and financial challenges, there was not a lot dialogue. Somewhat the Summit felt like one other AI love fest: everybody with completely different spoons stirring in the identical outdated bowl. I get it, it’s a present for the distributors and by the distributors. However shouldn’t there have been no less than a little bit extra dialogue of actuality and the challenges?
3. One vivid spot was the cybersecurity stage. A lot of the presenters for this stage acknowledged the cybersecurity dangers that refined AI might pose. Like AI platforms that might adapt to the defenses after which assault many times. One presenter talked about the dangers to the electrical grid and infrastructure which might affect AI and sluggish its use.
4. I used to be notably considering listening to from the New York Metropolis presenters, who returned to debate how the Metropolis makes use of AI to serve underserved communities. Whereas progress has been made, a lot of their presentation centered on political threats to those packages beneath the incoming mayoral administration and basically. The fears have been palpable and comprehensible.
5. There have been a number of references to ambient AI — AI that works within the background with out individuals realizing it. That’s the place we’re headed. However the focus ought to have been maybe extra on what the instruments that AI helps might truly do and what issues these instruments might now clear up with AI’s assist. Certainly, there gave the impression to be a number of curiosity in using AI in well being care and in finance. These classes have been essentially the most effectively attended which maybe displays an curiosity, as talked about above, in how AI might be utilized virtually to make different issues work higher.
6. There was quite a lot of curiosity in what AI will do to inventive fields and the way AI might be legitimately utilized by people in a inventive vogue. The prevailing view appeared to be that concepts come from people, and the AI permits implementation and the fleshing out of these concepts in methods not beforehand potential. That’s good for now. However the problem actually is as AI advances, what is going to it do to human creativity fields and the humanities. The classes appeared much less at this and what AI can do now.
7. A typical and maybe by now trite theme: AI with people beats AI or people alone. It’s the human within the loop argument. However not often does anybody cease and ask what this implies. What human? And the place within the loop does the human match immediately and tomorrow? I’m not faulting the AI Summit for not asking these questions, no different convention is both.
8. I’ve to speak concerning the facility, the Javits Middle, particularly, since it will likely be the location of the authorized tech convention, Legalweek. In 2026, that convention is transferring from midtown Manhattan the place it’s been for years. The nice? Javits is roomy, the exhibit area flows effectively. It’s not chopped on three flooring just like the Hilton area is. The meals at Javits isn’t as unhealthy as some convention venues. There’s even a Starbucks onsite.
The unhealthy? Lots of the phases came about on the exhibit ground. For essentially the most half the displays there have been onerous to listen to over the din of the remainder of the ground. Whether or not Legalweek will resort to the having the identical association stays to be seen. However it’s distracting to say the least.
The ugly? It’s a stroll from most inns. There are few eating places within the neighborhood. There isn’t a procuring close by. All of the issues that made the midtown website engaging to many are distant from the Javits Middle. That doesn’t notably trouble me since I’m going to a number of exhibits the place strolling a long way to get from place to position is important. However based mostly on the suggestions to this 12 months’s ABA TechShow of which I used to be co-chair, which made an analogous transfer to an analogous venue, McCormick Place in Chicago, I predict Legalweek will hear a slew of complaints over this. And since it would in early March, it might be a chilly stroll as effectively.
9. As I have written, there have been some helpful views from enterprise leaders on the right AI mindset. That mindset is way completely different than I see in authorized. A part of that’s by necessity: authorized thrives on accuracy and confidence. However as one among my shoppers used to say, we at all times have to be cautious we don’t spend an excessive amount of time within the closet speaking to ourselves. That’s the fantastic thing about attending a convention just like the AI Summit. However like most nonlegal conferences I attend, there have been few, if any, authorized professionals or legal professionals in attendance on the Summit. There was little dialogue of authorized points. It’s not good for authorized to disregard what’s happening in the remainder of the world. If nothing else, lots of the exhibitors and attendees are doubtless shoppers of legal professionals and legislation companies (or might be). It could be good to listen to what they’re pondering.
10. Not like some exhibits I’ve been to, I didn’t get the sense of a bro tradition. Individuals have been energetic and smitten by AI basically, and particularly, use instances. They want to push the envelope. That’s a very good factor. That’s how we advance. It’s like one other present I attend yearly, CES: 75% of what’s talked about could by no means occur. However some issues will. Or what’s talked about will encourage new issues to occur and be developed. That’s the fantastic thing about attending: contemporary views, new methods of pondering.
When Can We Discuss?
My takeaways result in some broader questions that want addressing. Let me hasten to say if I sound like I’m an AI curmudgeon of late, I’m not. I imagine in AI and its huge alternatives.
However with these alternatives come challenges. Like how we will guarantee we have now the infrastructure to assist all of the issues we would like AI to do. Like how AI will disrupt the workforce, remove jobs, and redefine what work means.
We get too many pithy ideas tossed round like truisms: AI gained’t change people it would simply change people that don’t use it. Or there can be different jobs to exchange these misplaced to the know-how. Perhaps these items are true. However simply mouthing them doesn’t make that so.
Maybe exhibits just like the AI Summit aren’t the place to speak brazenly about these items. However we have to have that dialogue someplace: a first-time attendee requested me on the Summit if there have been any conferences dedicated to an examination of the onerous points. I believed for a second and at last stated, “None that I can consider.”
Proper now, our relationship with AI is like one the place onerous points are at all times delay. That by no means ends effectively.
It’s nice to sing your group’s battle tune and cheer. It’s even higher when your group has the expertise to fulfill the challenges it faces. Let’s acknowledge the distinction between cheering and assembly the actual AI challenges..
Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger, and author. He publishes TechLaw Crossroads, a weblog dedicated to the examination of the stress between know-how, the legislation, and the apply of legislation.
