Spelman College President Welcomes Industry Leaders at Inaugural AI Leadership Summit

Dr. Howard and 10 Spelman Scholars Bring Spelman’s Perspective to a National Conversation on AI’s Future

Last month, Spelman College President Dr. Ayanna Howard welcomed over 100 researchers, educators and industry leaders at the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) AI Leadership Summit in Atlanta.

Hosted by ACM, the AI Leadership Summit brought together voices across a variety of industries to engage in meaningful dialogue on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of AI. During her welcome, Dr. Howard encouraged industry leaders to consider how AI can be developed and deployed responsibly in service of science and society.

"As someone who has spent a career designing robots and studying human-AI interaction, I am constantly reminded of one fundamental truth: Technology reflects the values, assumptions, and biases of those who design and deploy it,” said Dr. Howard. “If we are not deliberate, AI systems can amplify inequality, entrench bias, and centralize power. But if we design with intention, empathy, and accountability, AI has the transformative power to democratize education, solve intractable scientific challenges, and expand human agency rather than diminish it.”

Ten scholars from Spelman’s Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab joined Spelman faculty and fellow student participants at the summit to explore practical pathways for developing AI that strengthens society, enriches culture and expands human capability.

Leadership in AI cannot be measured solely by computing, parameters, or market capitalization. True leadership is measured by societal impact and ethical responsibility,” said Dr. Howard. “Let’s use this inaugural summit to build shared frameworks, challenge comfortable assumptions, and chart actionable pathways toward an AI ecosystem that strengthens society, enriches culture, and elevates humanity.”