Thought leadership, policy analysis, and extended reflections from AI in Chicago — conversations with guests and original essays on Illinois' AI economy, governance, and innovation future.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza inherited a $16.7 billion bill backlog, a near-junk credit rating, and a rainy-day fund with $48,000. Nine years later: ten credit upgrades and a payment cycle cut from 210 days to 13. She joins AI in Chicago to discuss what fiscal-crisis management teaches us about the AI transition ahead.
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Brandon Ragle, Illinois State CIO and Secretary of the Department of Innovation & Technology, leads 1,800+ technologists serving 13 million residents. His lesson for anyone adopting AI: the organizations getting it right aren't the fastest, they're the ones with the strongest foundations.
Most business leaders have quantum filed under “maybe in 10-15 years.” After sitting down with Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, I'm convinced that timeline needs to move up - significantly.
America doesn't just have a polarization problem. We have an information problem. Professor E.J. Fagan explains how we arrived at a moment where Republicans and Democrats don't just disagree on solutions—they can't even agree on basic facts.
In Q4 2025, 1.2 million people came to the Loop for arts and culture, spending $512 million in a single quarter. This is not a downtown in decline—it's a downtown in transformation.
How a Harvard-educated former mayor is ensuring Black communities aren't left behind in the AI revolution through workforce development, entrepreneurship support, and policy advocacy.
Elena Vekilov, Chief Privacy Officer and Global General Counsel at NielsenIQ, reveals why enterprise AI adoption stalls—not from fear of technology, but from unclear expectations. She shares how governance enables velocity and why privacy is innovation infrastructure.
Illinois has chosen to be an Engineering State for Quantum, but remains a Lawyerly State for AI. By pouring capital almost exclusively into experimental quantum physics while neglecting the immediate need for conventional AI infrastructure, Illinois is creating a utility gap.
A conversation with State Representative Bob Morgan, Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip, on Illinois's first-in-the-nation AI mental health law.
A Conversation With Richard Robbins, Applied AI @ Reed Smith. Richard Robbins, Director of Applied AI at Reed Smith, shares insights on effective and responsible AI adoption at scale, aligned to firm strategy in the legal profession.
Prenosis CEO Bobby Reddy Jr. shares lessons from developing the first FDA-approved AI tool for sepsis diagnostics and the realities of building healthcare AI.
Gianne James, Senior Vice President at First Insurance Funding, discusses AI governance, risk management, and the essential human element in financial services AI adoption.
Cait Moran, Senior Director at Oracle, shares her journey from engineer to enterprise AI leader and insights on building effective AI teams.
Dr. Heather McCombs-Chait discusses the transformation of traditional medical device companies into AI-powered healthcare innovators.
William explores the optimistic case for AI as a tool for human flourishing, discussing how thoughtful deployment can enhance rather than diminish human potential.
Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero of AbbVie shares his pragmatic approach to AI strategy, focusing on real business value rather than technology hype.
Tim Turner of Thresholds discusses how community-based mental health organizations are thoughtfully adopting AI while prioritizing equity and patient care.