‘AI Breakfast Club’ Meets to Discuss Artificial Intelligence, Technology Landscape

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Artificial intelligence has rapidly altered the technology landscape, and a group of local business leaders have begun to centralize the discussion in the Capital Region.

Sean Austin, CEO of Helios Life Enterprises, and Craig Hall, founder of Marketing Wiz, have established a group to “open up a dialogue” around AI, its effects, and its future, said Hall. The ‘AI Breakfast Club’ hosted its inaugural meeting at Saratoga CoWorks in downtown Saratoga Springs on June 23.

“We said, ‘What if we put together a conversation with some leaders and try to bring some of the best minds in the region together to really open up a dialogue?’” said Hall. “Because we’re well-positioned here in the Tech Valley region. We have a lot of great minds, we have a lot of great industry leaders. The truth is, we don’t know what the future looks like, but it’s on us to kind of shape what that future’s going to be.”

Hall said it is “humbling” to be a part of the group, saying he believes AI is the next major shift in technology.

“This is a platform shift on par with the Internet, with the industrial revolution,” said Hall. “Really, it’s going to shape the way we as human beings interact with each other, interact with the world, and ultimately interact in our professions.”

The group featured other local business leaders including Anne McEntee, CEO of Digital Services at General Electric, Kris Walker, senior engineering manager at the Walt Disney Company, Gabby Lichtenberg, director of membership at The Business Council of New York State, Candy Huff, founder and managing director of Celsius, and Tia Felock, founder of TiFe Executive Consulting, among others.

The group discussed a wide variety of topics, including AI’s effect on a variety of industries, government legislation regarding AI, and the future of artificial intelligence and its impacts.

“I thought the conversation was amazing,” said Hall. “We had a wide-ranging discussion that went from policy to small businesses, large businesses in various sectors, financial services, software design, renewable energy, and we, I think, agreed that we want to continue to shape this as a group and build this community.”

“I think it probably went even better than the highest optimism,” Austin added. “Very optimistic, that idea that we can make something more from this.”

Hall said AI can “empower and enhance people to do more, and to access a depth of knowledge they otherwise might not have.”

“Young people coming into the workforce … they’re going to have access to a depth of information and knowledge that otherwise was reserved to 15 to 20 years of experience,” Hall said.

“Technology is going to move forward,” said Austin. “The internet moved forward, social media moved forward. … No matter what, it’s going to happen.”

Austin said that AI “can impact everybody now,” and also emphasized the potential local impact, saying, “the Capital Region has a unique opportunity to take advantage of (AI).”

“I grew up in the region,” added Hall, who is a graduate of Siena College. “I’ve been a part of what has been this long-term trend over decades of this technological advancement in the region, and I think that being a part of this conversation today is kind of humbling, in some ways.”

“Saratoga is a very unique spot,” Austin said. “I guess like anything, you want to invent the future you want to live in. We say, why not Saratoga?”