APRIL 14, 2026
RESPONSIBLE AI
AI is advancing at an ever faster pace.
It is impacting virtually every aspect of business. DAX brings together leaders from academia, industry and government for an exchange of perspectives and thoughtful dialog on both the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI responsibly.
Responsible AI builds confidence across the broader ecosystem and creates the conditions for sustainable innovation, risk management, and long-term value.
DAX 2026 will explore how these principles are being translated into practice, highlighting the research and ideas that enable organizations to harness AI's power responsibly. The event will conclude with an Innovation Showcase featuring the latest research from several of Columbia’s labs as well as AI focused start-ups spun out from the university.
DAX: Data Science and AI Exchange is Columbia University’s flagship event for industry executives seeking direct insight into where AI is headed and the research shaping what comes next.
Designed as an exchange between industry, government, and university leaders on pressing AI challenges, DAX offers attendees an inside look at emerging work in domains that matter most to business. Through cross-sector dialogue and applied examples, DAX connects cutting-edge developments with real-world strategic opportunities. Additionally, the Innovation Showcase features a glimpse of what is to come with research presentations and demos from Columbia AI start-ups.
Keynote Address
Bob Hedges
Retired Global Chief Data Officer, Visa
Research Fellow, MIT’s Initiative for the
Digital Economy
How Consumers Will Drive the Success of AI and How We Can Help Them
AI has the transformational power to change work, improve lives, and support society-level gains. Consumers' embracing of AI, however, is dependent on establishing a level of trust and confidence that data scientists and technologists have carelessly taken for granted. Achieving the required level of consumer trust will come not through regulation, but a collective commitment to keep consumers at the center of our data and AI innovation efforts. Here is what we can do.
Featured Speakers
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Angela V. Olinto
Provost of Columbia University
Rutherfurd Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics, Columbia University -
Garud Iyengar
Avanessians Director of the Data Science Institute
Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Columbia Engineering
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Francesca Rossi
IBM Global Leader for Responsible AI and AI Governance, T.J. Watson IBM Research Lab, New York
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Kara Miller
Host, It Turns Out Podcast
Discover innovations in AI. Build your AI network.
DAX sessions are designed to address today’s biggest trends and toughest challenges with insights from both academia and industry.
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Trust begins with how data is protected.
As AI systems rely on complex and sensitive data, organizations must safeguard privacy while securing models, pipelines, and infrastructure. What are emerging and practical approaches to protecting data, mitigating risk, and building AI systems that earn and maintain trust?
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The deployment of AI Agents requires new approaches to control and accountability.
As agentic AI moves from experimentation to deployment, questions of safety, oversight, and human-in-the-loop design become critical. How are organizations managing risk, defining guardrails, and ensuring responsible behavior? How is this new technology helping with productivity and cost reduction? What are some of the workplace challenges surfacing?
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AI cannot scale without governance that executives can stand behind.
Regulatory expectations and stakeholder expectations are reshaping how AI systems are designed and deployed. What does it take to build governance frameworks that support explainability, compliance, and confident decision-making?
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Join the innovation showcase where several Columbia start-ups demo their new technologies and current Columbia graduate students, as well as DSI scholars, present on their latest research. AI is impacting virtually every industry sector. Meet those at the cutting edge, connect with industry leaders and build your AI network.
Reasons to Attend
Get inside the research pipeline.
See emerging ideas before they become industry standards.
Bridge strategy and execution.
Learn how responsible AI principles translate into operational decisions.
Connect with Columbia University researchers and industry peers who are moving applied AI forward.
Meet the people building the future.
Network with researchers, AI professionals, start-ups, and more. A post-event summary PDF will be provided to all attendees.