6:00 - 7:00
AI is moving from the headlines to workplace reality at breathtaking speed. Some promise it will unlock unprecedented prosperity; others warn of mass displacement and widening inequality. Who’s right—and what does it mean for you? Your family? Your community? This talk examines how past technological revolutions—from agriculture and the printing press to steam power and electrification—reshaped economies, industries, and entire cultures. We’ll analyze early data on AI’s real-world impact and ask: is this simply the next productivity cycle or a turning point unlike any before it? Which skills are becoming obsolete? Which are rising in value? The discussion concludes with ways individuals and communities can adapt and thrive in an AI-accelerated economy.
About the Speaker:
Scott Mauvais retired from Microsoft after 23 years. Most recently, he was the Senior Director of AI and Global Partnerships for Microsoft Philanthropies where he identified and jointly invest in social impact projects with Microsoft's largest customers raising over $120 million in philanthropic funding. Previously he was the Director of Microsoft Cities and before that, he ran the Microsoft Technology Center. Scott serves on the national boards of Upwardly Global and the Urban Age Institute and co-owns the ground-breaking The WELL.
This event is part of SF Tech Week.