The pressure to adopt artificial intelligence is moving faster than many organizations’ ability to understand it. Drawing on decades of experience studying autonomous and safety-critical systems, Missy Cummings examines where AI can create meaningful value, where its limitations remain, and why leaders should be wary of systems they cannot fully explain or evaluate. Missy explores the gap between technological claims and real-world performance, particularly when reliability, accountability, and human judgment are at stake. Rather than framing AI as either a miracle solution or an existential threat, she offers a practical approach to determining whether the technology is appropriate for the problem an organization is trying to solve. This timely keynote helps audiences ask better questions, recognize hidden risks, and make more informed decisions about when and how AI should be used. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How to distinguish meaningful AI capabilities from exaggerated claims

• Why human oversight remains essential in consequential decisions

• What organizations should evaluate before adopting an AI system Read Less ^

The future of work is more complicated than a simple choice between people and machines. Drawing on her expertise in autonomous systems and human-machine interaction, Missy Cummings examines which tasks are most likely to be automated, where AI still depends on human judgment, and why replacing workers is often harder than technology companies suggest. Missy explores how organizations can redesign jobs around the strengths of both people and technology without assuming every employee must become a technical expert. She also considers the importance of workforce development, human oversight, and leadership decisions about which responsibilities should never be delegated to an algorithm. Grounded in evidence rather than speculation, this keynote helps audiences understand how AI is likely to reshape work and what organizations can do to prepare. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• Which tasks are most vulnerable to automation

• Why human judgment and expertise remain essential

• How organizations can prepare employees for AI-driven change Read Less ^

AI systems do not need to fail dramatically to cause serious harm. Drawing on her research in human-systems engineering and assured autonomy, Missy Cummings explains how small errors, flawed data, and misplaced trust can create significant consequences in high-stakes environments. Missy examines why safety must be built into AI from the beginning through rigorous testing, clear operating limits, and appropriate human oversight. She also helps organizations recognize when a system is being used beyond its intended purpose or performing in ways its developers did not anticipate. This practical keynote shows why responsible innovation depends on understanding not only what AI can do, but how it can fail before those failures affect people, operations, or public trust. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How to identify safety risks before AI systems are deployed

• Why human oversight and clearly defined limits remain essential

• How stronger testing and governance can support responsible innovation Read Less ^

AI can create significant value, but unmanaged risk can quickly turn an ambitious initiative into a costly failure. Missy Cummings provides leaders with a practical framework for identifying the legal, operational, ethical, and reputational risks that often accompany AI adoption. Missy examines common vulnerabilities, including unreliable outputs, automation bias, weak accountability, insufficient testing, and the use of AI in decisions that still require human context and judgment. She also explores how organizations can determine when AI is appropriate, monitor its performance over time, and establish clear responsibility when something goes wrong. Rather than slowing innovation, effective risk management gives leaders the confidence to pursue AI opportunities with stronger safeguards and more informed judgment. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How to identify the most significant risks associated with AI adoption

• What safeguards and accountability structures organizations should establish

• How to pursue innovation without losing sight of human judgment and responsibility Read Less ^

Leadership is often forged in places where belonging cannot be taken for granted. Missy Cummings draws on her experience as one of the U.S. Navy’s earliest female fighter pilots and a leading expert in artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems to examine the barriers women continue to face in technical fields. Missy shares candid lessons about navigating high-pressure environments, challenging entrenched assumptions, and building influence when expertise is underestimated. Her story encourages women to trust their abilities and define leadership on their own terms, while also challenging organizations to look closely at the systems that determine who is heard, supported, and promoted. This inspiring keynote offers a powerful perspective on resilience, credibility, and what it takes to create workplaces where more people can lead. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How to navigate environments where expertise may be questioned

• Why confidence and persistence are essential to leadership

• How organizations can remove barriers that limit talented people Read Less ^