Guests

The researchers, founders, executives, and policymakers shaping the Midwest AI ecosystem — every guest featured on the AI in Chicago podcast.

Nicholas Diakopoulos

Professor of Communication Studies & Director, Computational Journalism Lab · Northwestern University

Jason Rosensweig

Senior Policy Advisor · Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR)

Susana Mendoza

Illinois State Comptroller · Office of the Illinois Comptroller

Brandon Ragle

State Chief Information Officer & Secretary · Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)

Harley Johnson, PhD

CEO · Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP)

E.J. Fagan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Political Science · University of Illinois Chicago

Michael Edwards

President and CEO · Chicago Loop Alliance

Karen Freeman-Wilson

President and CEO · Chicago Urban League

Elena Vekilov

Chief Privacy Officer and Global General Counsel for Data Security, Product, and AI · NielsenIQ

Rep. Bob Morgan

Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip · Illinois House of Representatives

Bobby Reddy Jr., Ph.D.

CEO and Co-founder · Prenosis

Richard Robbins

Director, Applied AI · Reed Smith

Gianne James

Senior Vice President of Governance & Assurance · First Insurance Funding

Cait Moran

Senior Director · Oracle AI Office Center of Excellence

Dr. Heather McCombs-Chait

Physician turned Enterprise AI Leader · Healthcare & Medical Device Companies

Dr. William Benjamin

Principal Generative AI/ML Expert · Enterprise AI Leadership

Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero

Director of AI for HR · AbbVie

Tim Turner

VP of Insights and Analytics · Thresholds