AI Symposium 2026 - Advancing Learning, Discovery, and Responsible Innovation

Dr. Julie Carpenter
External Research Fellow, Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group, Cal Poly

Dr. Julie Carpenter is a social scientist whose research explores how people interact with artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies. Her work focuses on the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of AI, including how humans form trust, relationships, and emotional connections with intelligent machines. 

At the AI Symposium, Dr. Carpenter will examine how AI systems are shaping human behavior, identity, and decision-making. Her keynote will explore the evolving relationship between people and intelligent technologies and the ethical questions that arise as AI becomes embedded in everyday life.

Dr. Rama Akkiraju
Vice President of AI/ML for IT, NVIDIA

Dr. Rama Akkiraju is a leading computer scientist and technology executive working at the forefront of artificial intelligence and machine learning. At NVIDIA, she leads AI initiatives focused on applying advanced AI systems to enterprise technology operations and large-scale computing environments. 

Her work spans natural language processing, decision support systems, and intelligent automation. At the AI Symposium, Dr. Akkiraju will discuss how organizations are deploying generative and agent-based AI technologies to transform business processes and complex systems.

Mike Abbott
Technology Executive and Cal Poly Alumnus

Mike Abbott is a prominent technology leader and entrepreneur who has held senior engineering and product leadership roles at companies including Apple, Twitter, Microsoft, and General Motors. He has led global engineering organizations responsible for large-scale software infrastructure, cloud services, and digital platforms used by millions of people worldwide. 

As a Cal Poly alumnus, Abbott brings both industry insight and a deep understanding of innovation in the technology sector. His keynote will focus on how advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping large-scale technology systems and creating new opportunities for innovation across industries.

Dr. Chris Clark
Professor of Computer Science and Robotics Researcher

Dr. Chris Clark is a robotics and autonomous systems researcher whose work focuses on multi-robot systems and autonomous vehicles, including underwater robotics and cooperative robotic platforms. His research explores how intelligent machines can collaborate to navigate complex environments and perform tasks that extend human capabilities.

Dr. Clark previously served as a faculty member at Cal Poly, where he contributed to advancing robotics education and research within the university’s polytechnic, hands-on learning environment. His work continues to influence the field of autonomous systems and multi-robot coordination.

As the Noyce Distinguished Speaker, Dr. Clark will discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, highlighting how advances in autonomy and machine intelligence are enabling new frontiers in engineering, exploration, and applied research.