The Business, AI, and Democracy (BAID) conference, hosted by Columbia Business School's think tank, The Hub, aims to unpack the complexities of our current era where democracy faces significant challenges, and the role of business is increasingly intertwined with these societal shifts.
The agenda will begin with welcoming remarks from Costis Maglaras, the Dean of Columbia Business School, followed by an opening keynote by Sergei Guriev, Provost of Sciences Po and former Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The day's discussions will culminate in a closing keynote by Jiahao Chen, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at New York City's Office of Technology and Innovation. His presentation will delve into the promises and challenges presented by AI in nurturing a dynamic and robust democracy.
The program is structured into three focused sessions:
AI and Democracy: Bruce Kogut, Sandra Matz, and Chris Wiggins will tackle the nuanced relationship between AI and democratic processes, emphasizing AI's potential to both challenge and enhance public discourse.
Misinformation: This session, with Andrey Simonov, Eunji Kim, and Gita Johar, will delve into the dynamics of misinformation, exploring strategies to mitigate its impact on society.
The Social Effects of AI: Featuring insights from Jiahao Chen, Laura Veldkamp, Anya Schiffrin, Jonathan Knee, and Susan McGregor, the discussion will broaden to examine AI's influence across the economy, business practices, media, and politics, offering a comprehensive look at AI's societal footprint.
This conference is not just an academic gathering; it represents a vital conversation at the crossroads of technology, governance, and societal welfare, calling together scholars, industry experts, and policymakers to forge a future where technological innovation and democratic values coexist and flourish.