Global leaders, technologists, and artists gathered in the Low Library Rotunda for Columbia Engineering's first-hosted World Leaders Forum event, "AI + Culture," which examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping human development and creative expression.
Presented in collaboration with Endeavor Greece, under the patronage of UNESCO, and Columbia School of the Arts, the program featured two panel sessions and a keynote address. In her opening remarks, President Jennifer L. Mnookin described the current moment as "a tale of two AIs": one of unparalleled opportunity and another of unprecedented risk.
The first session brought together Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of the Hellenic Republic, and Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group. The discussion focused on how AI could expand opportunity around the world, and what it could disrupt along the way.
The second session turned to art and storytelling. Lydia Chilton, associate professor of computer science, moderated a conversation between Anastasis Germanidis, co-founder and co-CEO of Runway—an AI research company building next-generation creative tools—and Jennifer Lee (SOA'05), Oscar-winning filmmaker, writer, and director of Frozen, and former chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
In other Columbia news, the university announced a $5 million gift from Mila Atmosudirdjo Tuttle (CC'96, SIPA'05) that will provide for immediate programmatic enhancements and the creation of dedicated tutoring space in Uris Hall.
A new paper co-authored by Columbia Business School Professor Roshni Sahoo found that targeted cash transfers totaling $318 billion, or just 0.3% of global GDP, could reduce global extreme poverty to about 1%.
Marine carbon dioxide removal could support climate action but faces major scientific, technical, and governance challenges, according to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.