The 2024–2025 academic year at the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence (CAAI) was marked by a series of insightful events that brought together leading academics, industry professionals, and students to discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. With a lineup that spanned workshops, seminars, and expert panels, CAAI showcased how AI is transforming a variety of fields.
One of the year’s standout events was “Examining AI and Discrimination,” a conversation between Sanjog Misra, the Charles H. Kellstadt Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing and Applied AI and director of CAAI, and Alex Imas, Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics and Vasilou Faculty Scholar. For an audience of UChicago and Booth alumni, the two scholars explored how AI can inadvertently perpetuate discrimination, amplifying societal biases through algorithmic systems. They discussed how these dynamics manifest in consumer markets, financial services, and public policy, while also discussing the limits of AI interventions. The evening concluded with a networking reception, giving attendees the opportunity to continue conversations about equity, technology, and responsibility in the AI age.
“AI Usage in Human Trafficking,” a panel exploring how technology is used both to combat and facilitate trafficking networks, was another powerful event from this year. Co-organized by Booth/MSW student Katherine Alexander, the event brought together a diverse set of experts: Sharon Pursey of SafeToNet, Caleb Carroll of the International Justice Mission, and Rochelle Keyhan of Collective Liberty, with moderation by Judge Virginia Kendall. Panelists highlighted the dual-use nature of AI in human trafficking and emphasized the need for ethical system design, improved data-sharing protocols, and cross-sector collaboration.
In addition to public events, CAAI provided hands-on learning opportunities for students within Booth. In November, Booth PhD student Alex Kim led a popular two-part workshop, “Intro to Language Embeddings: Uncovering Meaning in Text,” introducing attendees to the mathematical and conceptual foundations of text embeddings. Participants gained practical skills in analyzing sentiment, identifying textual similarity, and reducing high-dimensional data, all through the lens of modern large language models.
Bringing together voices from academia and industry, “Translating AI into Impact” engaged expert alumni, Daryush Laqab (Mastercard), Kapil Hetamsaria (C3 AI), and Eduardo Sanchez (Ascendion). Moderated by MBA student Elise Clark, the discussion explored how leaders are implementing AI across sectors. The event was both practical and aspirational, offering students a window into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in AI-driven careers.
The Center’s most popular event this academic year featured alumnus Ryan Kappedal, MBA '19 and Technical Lead Manager at Google, speaking on, “Crafting the Future with Synthetic Data”. Kappedal delved into how synthetic data is playing a central role in foundational model training, enabling better performance in domains with limited or sensitive datasets. Drawing on his experience in both commercial AI development and national defense applications, he offered students a perspective on the broader societal stakes of generative technology.
CAAI also co-sponsored and supported a variety of campus-wide events, reinforcing Booth’s leadership at the intersection of AI, policy, and business strategy. These events included AI, the Economy, and Public Policy hosted by the Becker Friedman Institute, Chicago Booth TechCon, “Front Office: From Stats to Strategy in Modern Sports” hosted by the Media, Entertainment, and Sports Group at Booth, among others.
To stay updated on future programming, faculty research, and opportunities for involvement, sign up for the CAAI newsletter and follow the Center on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and YouTube. Whether you’re an expert, student, or simply AI-curious, your voice and vision are welcome in this growing conversation.
