The panel delves into technical aspects such as AI and AGI, focusing on how companies practically integrate generative AI into their operations and products. It addresses the concerns and risks large corporations face when implementing this technology, exploring its impact on startups and the broader population. Additionally, the discussion highlights critical success factors for effective AI implementation.
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My focus is on enabling organizations to solve hard, real-world challenges by building teams of smart people who apply their talents to create pragmatic, reliable technology solutions to address the challenges.
My journey in this field began after earning a degree in Geological Engineering, leading to 25 years of experience delivering data-driven insights across various industries, including Environmental, Financial, AEC, Mining, Oil and Gas.
In 2016, I co-founded Menome Technologies with the goal of revolutionizing business data usage. Menome's primary focus was on demystifying complex data, consolidating fragmented information, and offering clear, actionable insights. This strategy significantly aided organizations in making informed decisions, understanding their clientele, and maintaining a competitive edge. The dataLink platform, developed by Menome, was instrumental in fostering business growth and efficiency through sophisticated insights and analytics.
After successfully exiting Menome following its acquisition by Arcurve, I now lead their AI/ML practice. I am actively involved in expanding the team and its capabilities, managing projects that enhance organizational performance through technology, and frequently speak on pragmatic, applied AI.
Zahra Aminolroaya, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer at Xgen AI, stands out for her specialization in developing Large Language Models (LLM), and advancing machine learning initiatives. She is specialized in both classic natural language processing and generative AI. Since the start of her journey in data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in 2015, Zahra has built a solid foundation that spans both the academic and industrial landscapes. Her academic background, culminating in a Ph.D. from the University of Calgary, Canada, has been recognized with several awards, including the Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships (two years) and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES). Zahra's professional contributions are characterized by her innovative use of conversational AI in different projects, analyzing social networks, and performing sentiment analysis with LLMs.
Scott Irvine is the National Director, Technology Specialist – Applications, Data & AI for Microsoft Canada. Scott team are helping Microsoft’s strategic and major accounts across Canada to adopt AI technology. He has worked at Microsoft for over 11 years as Data & AI Sales Specialist and Azure Core Sales Specialist. Prior to that Scott worked at Bell Canada for 10 years in a number of roles including building out their ICT Data Center Practice in Western Canada. Scott has a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University is a certified Acritical Intelligence Engineer from Microsoft and holds an Executive Strategy Certification from Wharton University. He sits on the Board of Directors at Cornerstone Youth Center and the IT Advisory Board for Woods Homes based in Calgary.