2019 Analytics Frontiers conference to focus on ethics, bias in artificial intelligence

The UNC Charlotte College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) and Data Science Initiative (DSI) will host the fifth annual Analytics Frontiers conference Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26-27, at the Ritz-Carlton in Uptown Charlotte.

The two-day event will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions and a networking reception with global and local industry leaders. For the first time since its inception, the conference will highlight Women in Data Science (WiDS), an event for students, academics, corporate professionals and leaders committed to supporting women and diversity.

The event is the Southeast’s largest conference of its kind and connects C-level executives, top data scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and academic and government leaders to share ideas, network and advance the region as a leading technology hub. The conference aims to attract an elite group of professionals who are among the field’s top influencers.

“Data Science has changed our economy. But radical changes are now coming to Data Science jobs. The Analytics Frontiers keynotes on ethics in AI (artificial intelligence) and the emerging data utilization practices will offer unique insights into the future of data science expertise and the type of jobs that will remain in high demand,” according to Bojan Cukic, chair of the Department of Computer Science in the College of Computing and Informatics and interim executive director of the Data Science Initiative.

Women in Data Science (WiDS) – March 26
WiDS Charlotte is one of more than 150 regional events taking place in approximately 50 countries in association with Stanford University’s WiDS initiative championed by its Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering (ICME).

“With this global conference, we aim to inspire more women to enter this important and growing field that is having a major impact on every sector of our society,” said Margot Gerritsen, ICME director at Stanford University. “By showcasing the amazing work that these incredible women are doing, we also hope to reinvigorate women currently in fields related to data science.”

WiDS Charlotte will feature keynote speakers Janice Little, chief diversity officer of Lowe’s, and Katie Starbird, assistant professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) and director of the Emerging Capacities of Mass Participation (emCOMP) Laboratory at the University of Washington. More information about the speakers and panelists can be found here.

Analytics Frontiers – March 27
The fifth annual Analytics Frontiers Conference will highlight the topics of ethics and bias in artificial intelligence (AI) with two of the top experts on the subject. Rumman Chowdhury, the global lead for responsible AI at Accenture will discuss what companies need to consider when developing an ethical AI program and how to build one. Viktor Mayer-Schöenberger, professor of internet governance and regulation at Oxford University and world-renowned author, will approach the subject of ethics in terms of the societal implications individuals face in this new AI-driven world.

The daylong conference will include approximately two dozen breakout sessions with top experts from leading companies, including Bank of America, Lowe’s, Wells Fargo and others. A complete agenda for the Analytics Frontiers conference can be found here.

Registration for Analytics Frontiers is open.