Featured Session: Real-World Impact of AI: Opportunities, Risks and Intellectual Property Oh My!

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  "name": "Featured Session: Real-World Impact of AI: Opportunities, Risks and Intellectual Property Oh My!",
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      "details": "The Honorable Michelle K. Lee is founder and CEO of Obsidian Strategies (“Architects for AI-Driven Strategies”), where she advises Fortune-ranked companies on their most impactful AI opportunities as well as AI governance.  She also currently works with GenAI startups helping them to increase productivity, enhance creativity and improve the quality of our lives.\r\rBefore Obsidian, Michelle was Vice President (AI) at Amazon Web Services, where she built global AI software services and led key parts of AWS' global AI business including the Machine Learning Solutions Lab and Computer Vision business.  Michelle was also a lead business executive and architect of AWS’ responsible AI efforts.  \r\rPrior to Amazon, Michelle had the privilege of serving as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  In a historic moment on the main stage at SXSW in 2015, Michelle was sworn into office becoming the first woman to hold this position since the founding of our country.  She is one of the foremost intellectual property (IP) experts in the world and recognized by numerous industry organizations as, e.g., Top 25 Icons in Intellectual Property, Top 50 Most Influential Visionaries in American Public Policy, Top 50 Women in Tech and Top 50 Intellectual Property Trailblazers and Pioneers.\r  \rFrom 2017 to 2018, Michelle held the appointment as the Herman Phleger Visiting Professor of Law at Stanford Law School where she taught on disruptive technologies (including AI and autonomous vehicles) and their impact on existing policies and regulations.   Michelle also served as Deputy General Counsel and Head of Patents and Patent Strategy at Google, a partner at Fenwick & West, and an AI researcher at the MIT AI and Hewlett-Packard Research Labs. \r\rMichelle holds a B.S. and an M.S. from MIT in electrical engineering and computer science and a J.D. from Stanford Law.  She wrote her thesis at the MIT AI Lab, frequently speaks globally on AI, AI governance, intellectual property, digital transformation and innovation, has testified before the U.S. Congress about 10 times on various areas of her expertise, and currently serves as a presidentially appointed member of the American Bar Association’s Task on Artificial Intelligence and the Law.  Michelle is delighted to return to speak at SXSW!",
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  "description": "AI is the most transformative technology of our generation. This session explores the promise and perils of AI, sharing concrete examples of how AI is being applied with impact by businesses, creators and others to drive operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, increase revenues and augment creativity. The audience will also learn about the risks associated with AI including some novel intellectual property issues (IP) posed, and how to weigh opportunities with risks. The insights shared are from a speaker who has built AI solutions and been at the top levels of technology, law, business and government and boardroom, all of which perspectives are critical to the successful AI applications.",
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