Impressions about the AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington DC

Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity and not as a Job Market Threat

For the first time in years, I saw more security inspections at the Washington Convention Center in DC than before, specifically for the AI Expo for National Competitiveness on May 7th and 8th. When I was a public school teacher in DC, I attended a lot of seminars there and was not inspected upon entry. The Expo FAQ gave more details as quoted below:

Are there any off-limit items at the Convention Center? Yes! Prohibited items include: aerosols, ammunition, balloons, bicycles, coolers, drones and other unmanned aircraft systems, explosives, firearms, flammable liquids, glass, thermal, or metal containers, public address systems, laser pointers, recreational motorized mobility devices, large signs and placards, toy guns, weapons of any kind, and any other items determined to be potential safety hazards.

Maybe one of the reasons is for the security of their guest speakers. When I attended their expo on the second day, I saw politicians and government heads. Or maybe it is now the norm in DC. Who knows?

WHO Were There And WHAT They Are Looking For

I saw a lot of government agencies, army branches and colleges with exhibit tables plus a few businesses. It was clear that they are all geared up to attract promising people who can help their organizations move forward and be more competitive. Below are some of the signs I saw:

Government agencies, businesses and the military are looking for promising people to train in AI. Colleges want to attract students interested in artificial intelligence. It is actually in line with the quote I saw from the National Security Commission on AI:

Change with the Times

Clearly, the job market wants people who are willing to adapt with the AI wave. Yes, many jobs will disappear. However, a lot of other jobs will open. Yes, AI is changing the tide. As Christians, what do we do? We have to know what it is doing in our industry and change with the times. It is like the advent of the printing press and the internet; they changed industries but they created more opportunities. As followers of Christ, we have to steward our resources and be good and faithful servants by adapting new tools of our trade. Next, I will talk about the only seminar in the Expo that interested me: the “fireside chat” with the US Patent and Trademark about AI.