The Future of Data & AI

Data & AI Think Tank

June 11, 2026 - New York, NY

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Past and Present Visionaries

Sameer P (Filler) Forbes Media LLC
Sameer Patwardhan

SVP IT

Forbes Media LLC

About Me

Sameer is the SVP , Technology at Forbes Media LLC and leads their DevOps, Security , Corp IT , Engineering and QA . He has extensive experience in all facets of IT right from starting out as a C++, Java developer to DevOps , Security and Cloud infrastructure. Sameer is also a member of ISC2 and has CISSP and CCSP certifications. He loves to work out , to go on long walks , a Linux hobbyist and avid gardener

Thomas R (Filler) Lazard
Thomas Rizzo

Chief Architect

Lazard

About Me

Thomas Rizzo is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience across various sectors and is currently serving as the Chief Architect at Lazard. His diverse background spans finance technology, digital services, utilities, social media, legal, and education sectors. Prior to joining Lazard, Thomas made significant contributions to companies like Zebra, where he helped shape their digital services and SaaS offerings, and Con Edison, where he drove technological advancements in the utilities sector. In his current role at Lazard, Thomas leads the design and architecture of technology solutions that drive the company's digital transformation journey. His strategic vision and ability to foster an engaging work environment have earned him the reputation of an 'IT Rock Star'. He is committed to driving business growth through digital transformation, and he does so by fostering a creative and enjoyable workplace atmosphere as part of his leadership approach.

Agenda

All times Eastern Time

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration


9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Morning Networking


9:30 AM - 9:40 AM

Opening Remarks


9:35 AM - 10:20 AM
Panel

The Role of AI in Enhancing Digital Innovations and Operations

Exploring the transformative influence of artificial intelligence on modern business processes. This session delves into how AI-driven technologies optimize digital operations, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiency. This Vision Voice will share insights into real-world applications, best practices, and the strategic integration of AI, empowering organizations to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation in the digital landscape.


10:25 AM - 11:25 AM
Keynote Panel

The Evolving Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries by enabling smarter decision-making, improving efficiency, and creating more personalized experiences. From automating workflows and enhancing customer service with natural language processing to powering innovations in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, AI's impact is far-reaching. Yet, as with any powerful technology, AI brings both opportunities and challenges. While it fuels innovation and optimizes operations, it also raises concerns around misuse, bias, and unintended consequences. This session explores the dual nature of AI—highlighting its transformative potential across sectors while examining the importance of responsible development and governance to ensure its benefits are realized safely and ethically.


11:25 AM - 11:45 AM

Coffee Break


11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel

Embracing Innovation: Best-of-Breed Emerging Technologies from Silicon Valley ... and Beyond!

In this strategic session designed for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), we delve into the transformative realm of "Innovate through Emerging Tech." As technology stewards, CIOs play a pivotal role in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. The session provides CIOs with actionable insights into leveraging these technologies to drive innovation within their organizations. Attendees will explore practical strategies for implementation, addressing potential challenges, and ensuring ethical considerations in adopting these disruptive technologies. Join us to empower your role as a technology leader and discover how CIOs can strategically leverage emerging tech to propel their organizations into the forefront of innovation.This panel discussion will take you on a journey through the forefront of technological innovation, featuring three visionary solutions poised to revolutionize the digital landscape. These pioneering solutions address pressing challenges faced by organizations worldwide, ranging from permissions management to troubleshooting live applications and system observability.

In today's dynamic digital landscape, managing permissions effectively poses a significant challenge for organizations. However, a pioneering solution emerges to address these pressing concerns by automating permissions management based on risk and usage patterns, ensuring alignment with business needs while minimizing security risks. Moreover, a revolutionary toolset empowers developers and SREs to troubleshoot live applications swiftly and efficiently, slashing mean time to resolution and delivering substantial cost savings. Dive deeper into how these groundbreaking approaches drive productivity gains and cost efficiencies for organizations worldwide.


12:35 PM - 1:15 PM
Panel

The Role of CDOs in Navigating Digital Transformation in 2025

Chief Data Officers (CDOs) play a pivotal role in navigating digital transformation for organizations. With the advent of AI and GenAI the role of the Data executive has evolved. As custodians of data, they oversee the strategic management of data assets, ensuring data quality, security, and compliance. CDOs help identify opportunities to leverage data for competitive advantage, often driving innovation and new revenue streams through data analytics and insights. They establish data governance frameworks and data-driven cultures within the organization, enabling informed decision-making and promoting data literacy. In an era where data is a critical asset, CDOs act as bridge builders between technology and business units, aligning digital transformation efforts with organizational goals and helping companies thrive in the data-driven landscape.


1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Lunch & Disruptor Showcase


1:40 PM - 2:15 PM
Fireside Chat

The Future of Generative AI: Transforming Business and Technology

Explore the transformative potential of Generative AI in this forward-looking session, where we will delve into how this cutting-edge technology is set to revolutionize business and technology landscapes. We will discuss emerging trends, anticipated advancements in the next 12-24 months, and their impact on various industries. Learn about practical applications of Generative AI, from enhancing customer experiences to driving innovation and operational efficiency. Our experts will also address the ethical considerations, regulatory challenges, and best practices for successful AI integration. Join us to gain insights into how Generative AI can unlock new opportunities and shape the future of your organization.


2:35 PM - 2:55 PM

Networking Break


2:55 PM - 3:10 PM
Disruptor

What’s AI Doing for You?

The terms "Artificial Intelligence" and "Advanced Machine Learning" are often thought of interchangeably. While there is a relationship between AI and AML, to say they are the same thing is an oversimplification and misclassification. Rather, one begets the other with AI being the basic principle upon which AML is developed. As AI begins to mature and migrate away from purely advanced mathematical operations into decision making paradigms, AML steps forward as the predictive ability of machines to process vast quantities of data. As data and analytics becomes foundational to the way every business operates, AI and AML will become foundational capabilities.


3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Panel

The Strategic Imperative for Data and AI leaders in the Age of Analytics

Data management and analytics are critical areas for technology leaders to focus on as organizations continue to generate large volumes of data. Technology leaders must implement effective data management strategies to ensure that data is accurate, secure, and easily accessible. This involves developing processes for collecting, storing, and analyzing data, as well as ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations. Additionally,technology leaders must leverage analytics to gain insights from this data and inform decision-making. By using advanced analytics tools and techniques, technology leaders can identify trends, patterns, and opportunities that can drive business growth and enhance the customer experience. Overall, effective data management and analytics are essential for technology leaders to help their organizations make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of the competition.


4:10 PM - 4:20 PM

Closing Remarks & Raffle Giveaway


4:20 PM - 5:30 PM

Cocktail Networking


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