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Workforce, Equity & Talent

Making sure the AI economy includes everyone — workforce training, equitable access, credential reform, and building AI talent pipelines across the Midwest.

Episodes

Jason Rosensweig — Civil Rights, the Notice Regime, and Illinois' 2026 AI Hiring Law with Jason Rosensweig
Ep 9 · June 22, 2026 · 67 minutes

Civil Rights, the Notice Regime, and Illinois' 2026 AI Hiring Law with Jason Rosensweig

In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Jason Rosensweig, Senior Policy Advisor at the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). They discuss why Illinois regulated AI in hiring through its civil rights act rather than a standalone AI statute, the new notice requirement, disparate impact, and what employers and AI vendors need to know under HB 3773.

Harley Johnson, PhD — Building a Quantum Workforce in Illinois: Why Business Leaders Should Pay Attention Now
Ep 6 · February 19, 2026 · 45 minutes

Building a Quantum Workforce in Illinois: Why Business Leaders Should Pay Attention Now

In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Harley Johnson, PhD, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). They discuss where AI meets quantum computing, why compute is strategy, how Illinois is building a state-backed deep-tech ecosystem on a former South Side steel site, and what a quantum-ready workforce looks like.

Karen Freeman-Wilson — From Steel City to the Chicago Urban League with Karen Freeman-Wilson
Ep 3 · January 19, 2026 · 58 minutes

From Steel City to the Chicago Urban League with Karen Freeman-Wilson

In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League and former Mayor of Gary, Indiana. They discuss ensuring Black communities aren't left behind in the AI revolution, workforce development, breaking credential barriers, and building comprehensive community-based AI training programs.

Cait Moran — An Architect of Excellence: Building in Enterprise AI with Oracle's Cait Moran
Ep 5 · August 13, 2025 · 58 minutes

An Architect of Excellence: Building in Enterprise AI with Oracle's Cait Moran

In this episode of the AI in Chicago podcast, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Cait Moran, Senior Director at Oracle's AI Office Center of Excellence. They discuss Cait's journey in AI, the evolution of Oracle's AI initiatives, and the establishment of a Center of Excellence to drive enterprise-wide AI strategies.

Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero — Unlocking AI Potential in Organizations - Sergio Gutierrez-Montero, AbbVie
Ep 2 · May 10, 2025 · 52 minutes

Unlocking AI Potential in Organizations - Sergio Gutierrez-Montero, AbbVie

In this episode of AI in Chicago, host Khullani Abdullahi interviews Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero, the Director of AI for HR at AbbVie. They discuss Sergio's background in consulting, the evolution of AI in business, and the challenges organizations face in implementing AI strategies. Key themes include the importance of focusing on specific business problems, the need for robust data infrastructure, and the significance of driving employee adoption of AI tools.

Insights & analysis

Jason Rosensweig on Civil Rights, the Notice Regime, and Illinois' 2026 AI Hiring Law
Featured Conversation

Jason Rosensweig on Civil Rights, the Notice Regime, and Illinois' 2026 AI Hiring Law

Illinois put AI hiring inside its civil rights act instead of passing a standalone AI statute. Jason Rosensweig, Senior Policy Advisor at IDHR, breaks down the architecture of HB 3773 — the notice requirement, disparate impact, and the 'influence or facilitate' reach — and what employers and AI vendors must do now.

Illinois: World-Class AI Talent, Zero AI Giants. Why?
AI Policy & Illinois Ecosystem Analysis

Illinois: World-Class AI Talent, Zero AI Giants. Why?

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.