We leadoff our new Wilson Forum season on Friday, September 13th

with Innovation Toronto’s Ron Smith, Marv Goldschmitt of AIUpdate, and Paula McConnell of Seva Digital who will lead us through An Introduction to and Test Drive of Generative AI. This session will begin with a brief history of AI and its meteoric evolution into virtually every aspect of life on our small planet. At this stage of history it seems that few people have had any direct experience with this technology. Our speakers consider it important that everyone should have such an opportunity and make judgments on the value of this technology for themselves as it is likely to impact them directly. Today is a test drive of an experiential chatbot designed to introduce non-technical people to our new reality and we will illustrate the potential of Ai with a few volunteers. There will be a few short videos that are illustrative of more advanced capabilities. I have had such an experience with the guidance of our guests and I can testify to the value of AI in matters of interest to me. But I am also confident that this technology can be abused. My hope is that we have learned some lessons from the history of The Internet and The Web, that likely pale by comparison, but may help lead to a responsible and accountable advance of AI into our social fabric. The session will conclude with Q and A as is our usual.

Ron Smith is an experienced innovator who left the for-profit world 34 years ago to apply entrepreneurial business principles to social needs. The focus in this time-line has ranged from the creation of innovative community projects, creation and implementation of local and foreign emergency disaster relief efforts to the global environmental imperative. His commitment to a positive, business-like and balanced approach to community, environment, education and related issues has helped attract some of the best minds in business, education, the environment and the community to work on pragmatic approaches that target the goal of a truly sustainable future. In 2007 Innovation Toronto was born. It began with Ron overseeing an online focus on the startup community in Toronto but quickly evolved to focus on the brilliant breakthroughs and discoveries that global science was bringing to the world. Since that time, Innovation Toronto has strived to showcase the best and brightest ideas that can be found from universities and research institutions worldwide. The ongoing overall mission is to help accelerate the development of the projects and ideas most likely to be of service in a time of local / global need. With the advent of generative artificial intelligence platforms he is deeply involved in exploring the possibilities and potential offered by AI to better promote the promise and wonders of science to the general public. See the attached for a more complete summary of Ron’s remarkable leadership over the years.

Marv Goldschmitt has been involved in the “bleeding” edge of the computer industry for 45 years. He brings a long history of high technology executive management and consulting experience to every engagement. He is a broad thinker who applies his skills to a variety of areas that are impacted by rapid changes in technology. Active in the evolving areas of information privacy and data governance he started and ran the first software industry lobbying organization to combat piracy and establish protection for software IP. He was a member of IBM’s Data Governance Council leading the privacy and security policy development team. Marv has a long interest and involvement with AI. In 1986 he worked with Nestor Inc., the first dedicated neural networking company. He was at IBM when Watson was being developed and then started a company to help job seekers combat the use of AI in resume screening. Marv has published numerous articles on business development strategies, security and data governance. He holds a BS from the State University of New York and an MS from the Medical College of Virginia/VCU, in psychology, is a professional photographer and spent a number of years as a meditation instructor. A short version of Marv’s unique history is included in the attached.

Paula McConnell, founder of Seva Digital, began her journey in technology at just four years old with an oscilloscope her father brought home from work at Hewlett Packard. With over a decade of experience in human-centered design and an MBA in Innovation and Technology Transfer, Paula has a rich background in creating impactful tech solutions, including a notable app developed in Nicaragua to assist smallholder farmers. Seva Digital is dedicated to empowering small business owners by offering tailored AI and technology solutions that enhance business efficiency, growth, and community engagement. As a sought-after speaker and workshop leader, Paula combines her profound expertise with a supportive and engaging approach, helping business leaders understand and implement AI technologies effectively. She acknowledges the hesitations many face in adopting new technology and is committed to guiding professionals through these transformative changes with empathy and insight. Paula encourages you to delve into AI with confidence, recognizing its potential to transform industries and enrich our professional lives, and is dedicated to advancing AI literacy to ensure everyone can navigate these advancements with clarity and awareness.