Imagination in Action: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

What it Was

This was an all-day conference at MIT focused on AI—covering new innovations, business implications, and future directions. There were multiple stages with numerous talks, blending academia and industry. The event ran from 7 a.m. to around 7:30 p.m., and drew roughly 1,000 attendees.

The Good

The speakers were relevant and excellent. I heard firsthand how AI is being used in large insurance companies, automotive firms, and startups—all from people actively working in the field. Industry luminaries shared valuable insights; I particularly enjoyed Anshul Ramachandran from Windsurf, and of course, Stephen Wolfram is always engaging.

The academic speakers contributed thoughtful perspectives on the future of AI. This wasn’t an “academic” conference in the traditional sense—it was firmly grounded in real-world experience.

From what I gathered, some large businesses are well along the path of AI adoption, both internally and in customer-facing applications. Many have already gone through the growing pains and ironed out the kinks.

Both Harvard and MIT are producing graduates with strong AI skills who are ready to drive results. In other words, the local talent pool is robust. (Though I did hear a very entertaining story about a so-called “AI-native” developer and the rookie mistake they made…)

The networking was excellent. I met some wonderful people—some exploring AI applications, others contemplating new ventures, and many seasoned veterans. Everyone I spoke with was appropriately senior and had thoughtful, engaging perspectives.

The Bad

Not much to complain about, but one observation stood out. I was in a smaller session where a senior speaker had just finished. As the next speaker began, the previous one started a loud conversation with another senior attendee—right by the entrance, less than an arm’s length from the door. Even after being asked to be quieter, they continued. I found this disrespectful and discourteous, especially considering their seniority. Unfortunately, I witnessed similar behavior a few other times.

The Ugly

One thing really stuck with me. Several speakers were asked about AI’s impact on employment. The answers were nearly identical: “It will change employment, but overall demand will increase, so I’m not worried.” Urghhh...

Yes, historically, new technologies have increased employment rather than reduced it—but this glosses over the pain of transition. In every technological shift, people have been left behind, often facing serious economic consequences. I’ve seen it firsthand.

Here’s a thought experiment to make the point: imagine you’ve been a clerk in a rural Alabama town for twenty years. AI takes your job. What now? The new AI-driven jobs are likely in big cities you can’t move to, requiring skills you don’t have and can’t easily acquire. Local job options are limited and pay less. For you, AI is a major negative, and no amount of job creation elsewhere will make up for it. My point is: the real world is more than just developers. We need to acknowledge that people will experience real hardship in this transition.

The Bottom Line

This was a worthwhile use of my time. It gave me a clear sense of where early adopters are with AI in business, and also helped me realize I know more than I thought. Will I return next year? Probably.