Tampa Bay Tech’s poweredUP 2024 Spotlights AI Innovation

This year’s tech fest, poweredUp 2024, brought an artificial intelligence (AI)–focused lens to the audience, with presentations that dove into the seemingly endless possibilities of AI applications. Meghan O’Keefe, Tampa Bay Tech’s executive director, kicked off the program with a resounding shout-out to our region’s flourishing tech scene, calling it one where opportunity is abundant for all. “Tampa Bay has emerged as a powerhouse in the tech world,” said O’Keefe. “Our unique blend of talent, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit sets us apart.” Before bringing the event’s keynote speaker to the stage, she shared the following sentiment: “We want to inspire you today—in new, creative, and innovative ways—to build on the momentum of tech growth in our region.”

Insights from an AI industry pioneer

Igor Jablokov, CEO at Pryon and an early AI visionary, delivered this year’s keynote address. Sharing lessons in responsible AI, Jablokov brought a mix of insight, humor, and inspiration to the stage. He argued that what we see today as AI is “the same activity that humanity has done for millennia.” He cited cave drawings, the advent of the printing press, and the creation of universities and libraries as evidence. That’s because, to Jablokov, AI is about “reducing the distance between knowledge and people.”

Having spent much of his career as a researcher at IBM, Jablokov knew early on that he wanted to work on AI—and kept requesting to do so. He began by integrating AI technology into vehicles, with three key goals: creating safer scenarios, providing accessibility for visually impaired users, and bridging cultural divides with machine translation. “Back then,” said Jablokov, “there was almost no funding for AI.” Still, he persisted, and went from “cars to ORs,” experimenting with AI in a Miami children’s hospital.

In 2005, Jablokov was interviewed by Popular Mechanics, discussing how one day users would be able to “talk to their TVs.” Before the launch of the iPhone, he partnered with Apple on early applications of Siri. Later, he worked with Amazon, seeking to take Alexa’s capabilities into the workplace.

When discussing the rise and risks of generative AI, Jablokov encouraged audiences to think of it as technology that mimics how people think, at scale. “Machine learning is a subset of AI that uses mathematic algorithms,” he explained, “while deep learning mimics processes inside our brains.” Closing out his keynote speech, Jablokov’s vision for responsible AI is ultimately one in which we “transform static content into interactive knowledge.”

Multiple use cases for AI take center stage

Following Jablokov’s keynote speech, several presentations and panel discussions further illuminated the transformative and innovative potential of AI. Let’s look at a few.

• Retail cafeterias: During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic—when the retail cafeterias of local BayCare hospitals lost much of their staff—they integrated Just Walk Out technology from Amazon Web Services (AWS). By eliminating the checkout line, hospital staff had easy access to food when they needed it most.
• Financial services: From a government perspective, regulations change very quickly. By leveraging AI-generated data in the most ethical and compliant ways, the financial services industry is able to act and keep pace with changing regulations.
• Music production: Gone are the days when landing a recording contract happened only through a select number of record labels. AI reduces barriers in the music industry by allowing more musicians to record their own demos and albums.
• Threat detection: Modern security challenges faced by the military today require always-on monitoring. By implementing Zero Trust security principles, the military uses AI technology to ingest data logs, look for patterns of attack, conduct behavioral analyses, and investigate anomalies.

O’Keefe closed poweredUP 2024 with a far-reaching note of gratitude to all presenters and sponsors. “It is your passion and dedication,” she proclaimed, “that have made this tech fest a resounding success.” At BNO, we’re proud to support the growth of local tech communities. Get a glimpse into the award-winning work we’ve done on behalf of our esteemed clients in the tech space, and reach out to start a conversation!