MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Online Series

The Longer-Term Evolution of AI and Robotics Technologies | Ep. 7

In this episode, Irving Wladawsky-Berger joins Allan Tate to explore the long-term trajectory of AI and robotics. They revisit Rodney Brooks’ Seven Deadly Sins of AI Predictions, highlighting why AI forecasts often overestimate short-term progress but underestimate long-term transformation.
The discussion turns to self-driving cars, where Irving explains how the definition of "autonomy" has shifted—most deployed systems still require remote human oversight. He argues that smart infrastructure could have accelerated progress, but Allan counters with failed government projects like EV charging networks and high-speed rail, questioning whether government-led smart roads would have succeeded.
They also examine AI’s persistent challenges, including data quality, governance, computing power, and scaling AI beyond pilots. The conversation then shifts to AI’s future, referencing James Manyika’s 2050 Thought Experiment and key milestones for AI to become safe, beneficial, and trusted.
Irving emphasizes that while AI is advancing, governance, trust, and human-AI collaboration remain unresolved. The episode closes with reflections on AI’s economic impact on jobs, wages, and productivity.
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World. 
 
Join Our Online Community:Dive deeper into these topics by joining the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium online community. Access exclusive content, live events, and discussions with IT practitioners and innovators shaping the future of technology. 
 
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work | Ep. 6

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work. They discuss how AI is reshaping jobs through automation, augmenting human capabilities, and driving the need for re-skilling and hybrid skills. The conversation covers real-world applications across industries, ethical challenges, and the evolving role of leaders in navigating AI's opportunities and risks. Tune in for insights on how organizations can embrace AI thoughtfully while fostering innovation and maintaining a human-centric focus.
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World.
Join Our Online Community:Dive deeper into these topics by joining the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium online community. Access exclusive content, live events, and discussions with IT practitioners and innovators shaping the future of technology. 
 

How is AI Likely to Evolve in the Future, and Why is it so Difficult to Predict? | Ep. 5

Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger discuss the evolution of AI and its unpredictable future. They reflect on AI's roots with pioneers like Turing and Minsky, the shift from rule-based programming to machine learning, and the societal and ethical dilemmas AI poses today. Key topics include why AI breakthroughs often surprise even experts, how historical biases shaped its development, and the balance between embracing innovation and managing risks. This episode offers rich insights into the forces shaping AI and the challenges of predicting its impact.
 
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World.
 
Reference Post(s):
From Public Square:
AI Advances Aren’t Likely to Occur Nearly as Quickly as Many Believe
https://mitcio.com/posts/69786931?utm_source=manual
Who Will Be Proved Right? The Bullish or the Skeptic AI Camp?
https://mitcio.com/posts/71533799?utm_source=manual
Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance
https://mitcio.com/posts/60832964?utm_source=manual
Machine Learning Has an AI Problem
https://mitcio.com/posts/60832812?utm_source=manual
From Irving’s Blog:
Data-Centric AI: the Systematic Engineering of Data to Build AI Systems
https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2023/07/the-emerging-concept-of-data-centric-ai.html
The Puzzling Economic Impact of Transformative Technologies
https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2019/12/the-economic-impact-of-historically-transformative-technologies.html
The Future of AI: a Ubiquitous, Invisible, Smart Utility
https://blog.irvingwb.com/blog/2014/11/ai-an-invisible-ubiquitous-industrial-grade-digital-smartness.html

Who Will Be Proved Right? The Bullish vs. The Skeptic AI Camp | Ep. 4

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger tackle the critical question: "Who will be proved right—the bullish or the skeptical AI camp?" The conversation navigates the polarized perspectives on AI's transformative potential, contrasting the optimistic view that AI will revolutionize industries with the cautious skepticism about its limitations and risks.
The discussion delves into historical parallels, drawing lessons from past technological revolutions to evaluate whether the current trajectory of AI innovation aligns with long-term transformative trends or overhyped expectations. Key topics include balancing AI-driven innovation with ethical considerations, managing the societal impact of automation, and ensuring sustainable adoption in business and technology ecosystems.
Allan and Irving explore the roles of leadership and critical thinking in navigating this debate, providing actionable insights for CIOs and other leaders preparing for an AI-driven future. The episode offers a nuanced perspective on one of the most pressing debates in technology today, challenging listeners to reflect on where they stand in the AI conversation.
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19, 2025. Reserve your spot now by visiting our registration page and secure your access to this premier event focused on CIO Leadership in an AI-Driven World.
Join Our Online Community:Dive deeper into these topics by joining the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium online community. Access exclusive content, live events, and discussions with IT practitioners and innovators shaping the future of technology.

Limitations of Large Language Models | Ep. 3

In this episode, Allan Tate and Irving Wladawsky-Berger explore the evolving implications and limitations of large language models (LLMs) in AI. Irving highlights that, while LLMs show remarkable capabilities, they also face significant limitations, particularly in understanding context, reasoning, and maintaining accuracy in complex applications. The discussion addresses the need for business leaders to recognize both the opportunities and constraints of LLMs, as well as the importance of integrating these insights to leverage AI responsibly within organizations.
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19.
Join Our Online Community:Dive deeper into these topics by joining the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium online community. Access exclusive content, live events, and discussions with IT practitioners and innovators shaping the future of technology.

AI Advances Aren’t Likely to Occur Nearly as Quickly as Many Believe | Ep. 2

In the second episode of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's online series, Executive Chair Allan Tate and renowned technology strategist Irving Wladawsky-Berger discuss MIT’s exciting recent honor: Professors Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson were awarded the 2024 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences  along with James Robinson for their groundbreaking research on how institutions influence economic growth and prosperity.
Building on these insights, they explore the debate surrounding AI's near-term potential, drawing from Acemoglu’s perspective that AI's productivity gains will likely be incremental in the next decade. The conversation highlights why transformative technologies, like AI, require time and investment to deliver on their promises, with comparisons to historical innovations like electricity.
This episode is essential for CIOs, IT leaders, and AI enthusiasts seeking to balance ambition with realistic expectations in their AI strategies.
Save the Date:The next MIT Sloan CIO Symposium will take place on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19.
Join Our Online Community:Dive deeper into these topics by joining the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium online community. Access exclusive content, live events, and discussions with IT practitioners and innovators shaping the future of technology.

Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance | Ep. 1

In this first episode of the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's new online series, Executive Chair Allan Tate is joined by Irving Wladawsky-Berger, renowned technology strategist and content advisor for the symposium. They dive into Irving’s blog post, Artificial Intelligence: Realistic Expectations vs. Irrational Exuberance, exploring AI’s long-standing promises and current realities.
This episode unpacks the "7 Deadly Sins of AI," offering insights into the common pitfalls surrounding AI adoption and deployment. From overestimating AI's abilities to understanding the gap between Hollywood scenarios and real-world applications, Allan and Irving engage in an in-depth discussion aimed at setting realistic expectations.
The conversation extends to practical AI applications, such as AI-assisted content creation and virtual customer support, while highlighting areas like medical diagnosis and autonomous systems that remain in the demo stage.
This episode is essential for IT practitioners, AI enthusiasts, and decision-makers looking to understand AI’s impact on the future of technology. Tune in to learn how to navigate AI’s potential without falling for the hype.
Next Event:Save the date for our next symposium on May 20, 2025, with a special VIP pre-event on May 19.
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