Collaboration at the forefront of 2024 Data Science Symposium
Speakers dive deep into the details of AI, large language models
The University of Cincinnati Center for Business Analytics welcomed more than 240 attendees to the 2024 Data Science Symposium at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business on Oct. 11. The annual Data Science Symposium provides a forum for experts to offer relevant perspectives on a wide range of topics and tools in data science.
Rehgan Bleile, co-founder and CEO of AlignAI, gave the opening keynote with Jeffrey Shaffer, director, Applied AI Lab, and Kirk and Jacki Perry Professor of Analytics in the department of operations, business analytics, and information systems, offering the closing address.
In addition to the two keynote addresses bookending the event, attendees could choose from one of five tracks for each of two "tech talk" sessions. Sessions included speakers from top companies such as Great American Insurance Group, Fifth Third Bank, Procter & Gamble, GE Aerospace and more.
- “DAG Nammit: The Challenges and Dangers of Casually Interpreting ML Models” by Brandon Greenwell, 84.51°
- “Bayesian Data Analysis Without Tears: Tools for Practical Application” by Jeff Mills, PhD, Lindner College of Business
- “Integrating Machine Learning Models in Insurance Analytics: A Hybrid GLM-NLP Approach” by Nasser Mooman, Max Gruber, Victor Adewopo, PhD, Great American Insurance Group
- “Story of Jeanie: Use of AI in our Chatbot with Customers” by Michelle Grimm, Fifth Third Bank
- “The Current State of Analytics and AI in Manufacturing” by Don Fleschut, Ryerson; Ryan Fitzpatric, GE Aerospace; Steve Honkomp, Procter & Gamble; Michael Fry, PhD, Lindner College of Business
- “Forecasting Options and Developments Within a Large Multi-National" by Dhanashree Pokale, Domino’s Pizza
- “A Framework to Build, Manage, and Exchange Harmonized Data” by Chris Eldredge, Paycor Inc.
- “AI: Solving the New Rubik’s Cube (Better Ask ChatGPT)” by Jonathan Paul, Fifth Third Bank
- “Personalizing User Experiences: The Role of Session and Sequence-Based Recommendations” by Kunal Sonalkar, Nordstrom
- “GPT Reads Supply Chain News: Using Large Language Models to Predict Price Indices” by Sachin Modi, Lindner College of Business; Dan Willman, Shepherd Material Science Company; John Higgins, Cintas; Sandy Steiger, TQL
Center for Business Analytics team from left to right: Marilyn Kump, program director; Bill Bresler, project manager; Tim Cholvat, executive director; Dungang Liu, academic director; and Shannon Memory, program coordinator.
Tim Cholvat, executive director, UC Center for Business Analytics, welcomed attendees with a reminder of what brought everyone together for the day.
“Why do people come to the conference?” posed Cholvat. “There are always three reasons that I look at: One, to have an energizing experience, get yourself out of the office and share enthusiasm in an invigorating environment where you remind yourself why you have passion for your work and your industry. Second reason, gain new perspectives. We have speakers today that are going to ask you to think differently and ask you to look at what you do in a different manner. And finally, form new collaborations.”
Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, continued Cholvat’s message of collaboration, linking to the college’s mission of becoming the leading co-op business school.
“Co-op was invented at UC, and it means cooperative education. It means, how do we learn and push each other? How do we fuse theory and research and teaching with the practice that many of you do every day, especially in fields that are changing as fast as data and technology and AI,” said Lewis. “It's absolutely critical that we learn together so we can thrive today. It matters for our students, who are your future talent, but it also matters for you, and it matters for our continuous upskilling.”
Understanding intelligence and large language models
Rehgan Bleile, CEO of AlignAI, gave the opening keynote address.
Cholvat then welcomed Bleile to the stage to present “From Models to Agents: The Evolution of Data Science and AI.” Bleile’s talk emphasized both the philosophical and technical challenges related to AI and large language models (LLMs).
She began her presentation by challenging the audience to consider what it means to be intelligent and how to define artificial intelligence.
“If we think about what does it mean to be intelligent, when we think about that with humans, we might think about creativity, novelty. You might think about reasoning and problem solving or creating a world model that you can improve upon over time, or understanding or constructing abstract concepts, or even self-awareness and EQ [emotional intelligence], or your capacity to acquire, store and retrieve knowledge, or planning and decision making, or your ability to learn,” listed Bleile. “And these are the existential questions that we have as we're building these technologies.”
Bleile went on to touch on the evolving nature of data, the complexity of machine learning architectures, the changing landscape of testing and evaluation of models, and shifting risks and governance considerations.
Looking to the future
Closing the event, Shaffer presented “The Future of AI: The Wild West of Modern Technology.”
Before beginning the presentation, Shaffer paused to introduce the new Lindner Applied AI Lab. The lab is designed to provide curricular innovations, trainings for business partners, faculty and staff, and act as an incubator for cutting edge research in AI.
I already have AI popping up on my phone every day. It's in my email, it's in my Excel, it's in my PowerPoint, it's on my phone, even the text messages I can generate with AI. It's coming everywhere, and it's going to be integrated into all of our apps.
Jeffrey Shaffer Director, Applied AI Lab, and Kirk and Jacki Perry Professor of Analytics
Shaffer discussed the rapid advancements in LLMs and generative AI which are transforming industries and ways of life. The latter half of Shaffer’s address focused on evolving uses of AI where the technology takes on more responsibilities but with the human remaining in the decision-maker and evaluator.
In closing, Shaffer hammered home the importance of embracing and adapting to the rapid advancement in AI technology. As it becomes increasingly integrated into various industries and everyday applications, Shaffer identifies a paradigm shift taking place in how these tools are perceived and utilized.
“I already have AI popping up on my phone every day. It's in my email, it's in my Excel, it's in my PowerPoint, it's on my phone, even the text messages I can generate with AI. It's coming everywhere, and it's going to be integrated into all of our apps.”
The Center for Business Analytics partners with leaders in the data science community to provide leadership development, events, trainings and consultation services.
- 84.51°
- ABC Fitness
- altafiber
- American Modern Insurance Group
- Ameritas
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
- Cincinnati Reds
- Cintas
- DHL
- Fifth Third Bank
- GE Aerospace
- Great American Insurance Group
- HBH Holdings Inc.
- Hoxworth Blood Center
- HSD Metrics
- Kroger
- Macy’s Inc.
- Nestle
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Procter & Gamble
- Ryerson
- Western & Southern
- Worthington Steel
- CDO Magazine
- The Circuit
- Costrategix
- Knime
- Narwal
Featured image at top: Rehgan Bleile, CEO of AlignAI, presents in front of a sold-out crowd at the 2024 Data Science Symposium. Photos/David Bauer.
About the UC Center for Business Analytics
The Center for Business Analytics unites organizations and a world-class, multidisciplinary group of faculty and students to educate and exchange ideas and best practices on applying analytical methods to enhance business performance. To inquire about membership, sponsorship, training or speaking opportunities, email UCBusAnalytics@ucmail.uc.edu.
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