The ARCS Metro Washington Chapter’s (ARCS MWC) Winter Membership Meeting featured an intriguing panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI)—Application of Artificial Intelligence in Research and Industry—during a luncheon with almost 50 attendees at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Fairfax, VA, on Sun, Feb 9. The panel was moderated by Mr. Ryan Simpson, Public Sector Chief Technologist, NVIDIA, and featured three enthralling industry speakers: Dr. Anahita Imanian, Lead AI Data Scientist, MITRE; ARCS MWC’s own Dr. Melissa Rhoads-Simpson, Director Accelerating C2 Capability Transition, Lockheed Martin; and Mr. Earl Stafford, Jr., CEO, Aperio Global.

The panelists agreed that AI is a new industrial revolution enabling unforeseen promise and results in multiple sectors, including (to name a few): aviation safety, healthcare, finance, synthetic biology, and space and defense applications. After calling it an exhilarating time to chart the future of technological innovation, the panelists held a lively question-and-answer session with the audience.

The meeting concluded with the chapter’s business meeting, which highlighted the many initiatives and events organized by ARCS MWC leadership since the last membership meeting in September 2024. Thanks to Mary Jo Ruane for organizing the very informative and interesting event! Thanks also to the members of the Activities Council for contacting ARCS MWC members about it.