This moderated panel discussion was hosted by All Things Open during our annual Spacewalk meet-up (January 2025).
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Save the date:
* All Things Open AI is happening March 17-18, 2025 — Durham, NC | https://allthingsopen.ai/
* All Things Open 2025 is happening October 12-14, 2025 — Raleigh, NC | https://2025.allthingsopen.org/
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The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in 2025: Opportunities and Strategies for Career and Business Success
As we move into 2025, artificial intelligence is not just a disruptor but a core driver of business and professional transformation. This panel will explore AI’s expanding impact on enterprises and individual careers, focusing on actionable opportunities and strategic positioning for success.
* How will AI redefine roles, industries, and competitive advantages?
* What skills and mindsets are essential for professionals and businesses this coming year?
* Where are the emerging opportunities for innovation and leadership in AI-powered industries?
* The panel brings together leading AI experts, innovators, and strategists to share insights, challenge assumptions, and provide forward-looking guidance to professionals and leaders preparing for an AI-driven future.
Moderator Bio – Mark Hinkle
Mark Hinkle is an AI consultant with over 30 years of experience in enterprise software, cloud computing, DevOps, and open source technology. Mark specializes in guiding business leaders through the adoption and optimization of artificial intelligence for productivity and growth. He combines deep technical expertise with a pragmatic approach to delivering AI-driven value to mid-level and C-suite executives. He runs the Artificial Intelligent Network of over 250,000 subscribers.
Panelist #1:
Franziska Hinkelmann – Senior Engineering Manager, Google
Franziska Hinkelmann is a distinguished AI and machine learning engineer with a background in delivering cutting-edge solutions at scale. With expertise spanning advanced algorithms, applied AI, and systems optimization, Franziska’s work demonstrates how businesses can harness AI to solve complex challenges. Her contributions span technical leadership, innovation, and mentorship in AI strategy.
Panelist #2
Bill Higgins – VP, IBM watsonx Platform Engineering and Open Innovation
Bill Higgins is a technology leader and product innovator with extensive experience building AI-driven products. A strong advocate for practical AI adoption, Bill focuses on translating complex AI capabilities into real-world business applications. He is known for guiding teams to design and implement solutions that optimize workflows and enhance customer experiences.
Panelist #3
Jon Reifschneider – Founding Director, Artificial Intelligence Master of Engineering program in Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering; Co-founder and CEO, Inquisite AI
Jon Reifschneider is the Founding Director of the Artificial Intelligence Master of Engineering program in Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering where he teaches graduate level courses in Machine Learning and Large Language Models. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of Inquisite AI, the AI platform for science teams that accelerates their knowledge-intensive workflows.
Panelist #4
Sachin Solkhan – Vice President, Intelligent Search, Fidelity Investments
Sachin Solkhan is an Executive Technology Leader focused on building & leading AI product engineering teams. He is passionate about Application of Artificial Intelligence technologies, Software Engineering and Agile practices.
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About We Love Open Source
We Love Open Source is an open source community educational hub that includes blogs, interviews, presentations, podcasts, how-to’s, and more, from the All Things Open community members:
* Start reading: https://allthingsopen.org/articles
* How to contribute: https://allthingsopen.org/welcome-to-we-love-open-source
About All Things Open
All Things Open is a universe of open source events and platforms designed to educate and connect technologists around the world. It includes the All Things Open conference, the largest open source / tech / web event on the U.S. East Coast, meetups in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) of NC, South Carolina, and New York City, and a YouTube channel with more than 1,000 free recordings. See everything we do at https://allthingsopen.org.
