Attendees
- Victor Rogers, Sustainable Growth Creative LLC
- Andy Poarch, Alliance Group
- Van Wood, VCU School of Business
- Will Willis, Capital One
- Jeff MacDonald – Mekanism
- Dasha Runyan, ChamberRVA
- Will Melton, Xponent21, Richmond Water
Meeting Summary
Meeting Audio Auto-Transcribed by Loom, Summarized by custom GPT from ChatGPT called Meeting Maven (free if you are an Open AI premium subscriber and it works extremely well), very minor edits:
The meeting focused on several key AI-related topics. Participants delved into the complexities of intellectual property in the era of AI, discussing the potential obstacles and legal nuances. The concept of AI influencers was explored, balancing the novelty against the authenticity of human content creators. The conversation then shifted to the impact of AI on job markets, emphasizing the need for innovative business training to adapt to AI-induced changes in the workforce. The group continued with planning for Empower Your Business With AI on January 17. Finally, there was a unanimous agreement on the significance and appeal of in-person events in Richmond, underlining the city’s unique potential for hosting such events.
Key Takeaways
- Intellectual Property and AI: There was a consensus on the growing challenges and legal implications regarding intellectual property and AI, particularly in terms of content creation and web interaction.
- AI Influencers: The group discussed the potential and limitations of AI influencers, emphasizing the unique perspectives human influencers offer.
- AI’s Impact on Jobs: The meeting included a discussion on AI’s role in job displacement and creation, highlighting the need for business training to leverage AI effectively.
- Value of In-Person Events in Richmond: Participants agreed on the unique value proposition of in-person events in Richmond, citing the city’s conducive environment for such gatherings.
Next meeting: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 8 AM
Action Items:
- Promote In-Person Events: Leverage Richmond’s conducive environment for in-person AI-related events.
- Focus on Education and Advocacy: Separate youth and adult education in AI and consider the organization’s role in policy advocacy.
- Develop AI Prompt Library: Contribute to and refine an AI prompt library for community use.
- Event Preparation: Coordinate for the upcoming event on January 17th, including AV setup, presentation slides, and food arrangements.
- Networking Opportunities: Attend the Sunrise Science event on January 10th for networking and increasing the visibility of RVA AI.
- Organization Planning: Continue to hone what our areas of focus will be and take steps to formally organize AI Ready RVA.
Notable Quotes:
- “We’re a nation that believes in intellectual property protection.” – Highlights the group’s stance on the importance of IP in the context of AI.
- “AI influencers… lack that unique POV that you get from a human.” – Reflects the group’s perspective on the limitations of AI influencers.
- “Teach people how to build businesses so that we can fill the gaps that exist in the economy.” – Emphasizes the need for entrepreneurial education in the age of AI.
Questions Posed:
- AI’s Role in Job Replacement: How will AI influence job displacement and creation in various sectors?
- Effective Use of AI in Education: What are the best practices for integrating AI into adult and youth education?
- Organization’s Policy Role: What should be the organization’s approach to policy advocacy in the context of AI? How should we organize in the eyes of the IRS?
Current Stakeholders
| Name | Organization |
| Andy Poarch | The Alliance Group |
| Beth Vann-Turnbull | Housing Families First |
| Brittany Herndon | ASM Global – Richmond |
| David Kitchen | University of Richmond |
| Harold Fitrer | Communities in Schools |
| Jeff MacDonald | Mekanism |
| Jen Kostyniuk | Dominion Energy |
| Jason Lee | Greater Richmond Partnership |
| Moses Foster | West Cary Group |
| Nick Serfass | RVATech |
| Rasheeda N. Creighton | JWC Foundation |
| Rebecca Ivins | Hourigan Construction |
| Richard Foster | Virginia Business Magazine |
| Taikein Cooper | RPS Education Foundation |
| Van Wood | VCU School of Business |
| Victor Rogers | Sustainable Growth Creative LLC |
| Will Melton | Xponent21 |
| Ken Ampy | Astyra |
| Dasha Runyan | ChamberRVA |
| William Willis | Capital One |
| Phyl Demetriou | Richmond Debate Institute |