September 7, 2023 Meeting

September 7, 2023
All Meetings

Reference Articles

  1. Zoom Will Add AI Companion Chatbot
  2. ChatGPT: Few Americans think it will impact their job in a major way| Pew Research Center
  3. 2023 Machine Learning & AI Program for RPS Students
  4. TED Talk: How AI could save (not destroy) education (Sal Khan, Khan Academy)
  5. Dale Carnegie White Paper on Transforming your company with AI

Meeting Summary

Meeting summary provided by Augment app, improved by ChatGPT 3.5 (Input transcript in 15-minute increments.)

Key Takeaways

  • The meeting began with introductions and a discussion on the agenda, which included potential workshops, AI articles, stakeholder updates, and scheduling the next meeting.
  • The main topic of discussion was the limitations and challenges of using AI language models, such as the need for fact-checking and creating work cited.
  • The potential of AI in education and workforce development was discussed, along with the importance of engaging with Code RVA and exploring job opportunities in the AI field.
  • The group agreed to plan a workshop on AI and to connect with industry professionals in the field.
  • The discussion also focused on inviting key people to the group, including an AI summit organized by VCU and the importance of involving academic institutions and community colleges.
  • Concerns were raised about the risk of having unproductive meetings and the need for action-oriented outcomes.
  • The group discussed the need to determine whether the October VCU Summit is academically or employer-oriented and suggested that the group could provide skills-based training or information sharing based on the summit’s focus.
  • The group was encouraged to look at other cities as examples to inform their next actions and measure their effectiveness.
  • The meeting concluded with words of appreciation for the participants’ contributions and encouragement to continue sharing relevant information.

AI Implementation and Challenges

The meeting began with a discussion on the potential of AI in various fields such as education and workforce development. The limitations and challenges of using AI language models were also discussed, with a focus on the need for fact-checking and creating work cited. The group agreed to plan a workshop on AI and to connect with industry professionals in the field.

Stakeholder Engagement and Meeting Logistics

The group discussed the importance of involving key people, academic institutions, and community colleges in their initiatives. The logistics of future meetings, including scheduling and recording, were also discussed. Concerns were raised about the risk of having unproductive meetings and the need for action-oriented outcomes.

Learning and Collaboration

The group was encouraged to learn from other cities that have successfully implemented AI in their infrastructure. The need to determine the focus of the October PCU Summit and how the group could contribute was also discussed. The meeting concluded with words of appreciation for the participants’ contributions and encouragement to continue sharing relevant information.

Potential Action Items:

  • Contact Potential Stakeholders: Reach out to potential stakeholders, including academic institutions, community colleges, and industry leaders like Capital One, to involve them in the AI initiative.
  • Research Other Regions: Conduct research on other cities or regions that have made significant progress in AI adoption. Learn from their experiences and strategies.
  • Workshop Organization: Plan and organize an AI workshop in the coming months to kickstart the initiative. Will to mention this group in the next ChamberRVA Executive Committee Meeting.
  • Create an Online Platform: Develop an online platform to host resources, event information, and details about AI in the region.

Potential / New Stakeholders

  • Vann Wood (new to group, thanks Jennifer Wakefield) – Philip Morris Endowed Chair in International Business, Director – VCU Center for International Business Advancement (CIBA), Professor of Marketing
  • Richard Foster, Virginia Business (new to group)
  • Kelly McCall, Meta (Harold Fitrer)
  • Nick Serfass, RVATech (Jennifer Wakefield connected to Will Melton)
  • John Martin, RVA757 Connects (Rebecca connected John Martin & Will Melton)
  • Jamie Swain, VPM (media) (Andy Poarch)
  • Kym Grinnage, NBC12 (media) (Will Melton / Andy Poarch)
  • Michael Schwartz,. BizSense (media) (Andy Poarch)
  • Academic institutions, Community colleges – Paula Pando (No Assignment – Who can reach out?)
  • Industry leaders (e.g., Capital One) – Phil Hatfield (Will Melton)
  • Experts from outside the region – Heavy hitters from Silicon Valley perhaps (no names or assignments)