"Tech Square pushed the boundaries of Georgia Tech," Kurfess said. "This is kind of the same -- we're on the fringes. I think in five or 10 years down the road, AMPF will be the same kind of juggernaut as Tech Square, making a difference in society. People will look back at this moment and think'That was a crazy time at Georgia Tech.'" And, just as Tech Square expanded the boundaries of campus, GA-AIM has the capability of expanding Georgia Tech's impact on the state.

The event chaired by Mark Maybury (Chief Technology Officer, Stanley Black & Decker, mark.maybury@sbdinc.com) From steam power and electrification in the first industrial revolution to assembly line driven mass production of the second industrial revolution to computerization in the third industrial revolution, disruptive innovations have driven key change including urbanization, global travel, and information discovery and sharing. Equally if not more profoundly, the current cyber-physical fourth industrial transformation is driving fundamental changes not only in the way we manufacture but also because of the kinds of products and services created ways in which we live, work, and play. Studies from intelligent manufacturing experts at the World Economic Forum have identified a set of key foundational elements for Industry 4.0. These include the Internet of Things (IOT), big data, cloud computing additive manufacturing, augmented reality, autonomous robots, and modeling and simulation.

Today, Microsoft is releasing The Future Computed: AI and Manufacturing. This new book provides an in-depth look at how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the manufacturing sector by optimizing digital operations and driving efficiencies, enabling new products and services, and allowing for safer work environments. The book also offers a timely look at how society can respond to some of the challenges AI creates, and the need to develop new laws and regulations to address workforce disruption and develop AI in an ethical and responsible manner. Written by Greg Shaw – co-author of Hit Refresh with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and The Ability Hacks about technology for people with disabilities – this book is the second in a series that began with the release last year of The Future Computed: Artificial Intelligence and its role in society. In an era when digital technology is changing almost every aspect about how people live, work, play, and learn, we believe it is important to think carefully about the complex questions that AI raises.

Today, as more global manufacturing companies are incorporating artificial intelligence ("AI") into both their manufacturing processes and the products they sell, they are grappling with several pressing issues. At Microsoft, our AI and Ethics in Engineering and Research (AETHER) Committee helped architect six baseline principles for AI development: fairness, reliability & safety, privacy & security, inclusiveness, transparency and accountability to frame the work of the company's AI designers and developers as described in detail in our book The Future Computed: Artificial Intelligence and its role in society. While researching our latest book in the "Future Computed" series, The Future Computed: AI and Manufacturing, we listened to manufacturing company executives, association and work force leaders, as well as front-line factory employees to understand their respective attitudes toward AI-related policies, and the role regulation can play in guiding the use of AI in manufacturing. With respect to the last point, the stakeholders we have connected with and listened to have all stressed that democratizing access to AI is a key priority. They also noted that smart public policy is critical for developing incentives to help all organizations, regardless of size, benefit from AI's potential.

The industry is again at the forefront of grappling with the opportunity and challenges of transformational new technologies. At the start of last year, Microsoft released The Future Computed: Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Society. The book was designed to pique conversation on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle some of the major challenges of our time, and generate discussion about how to create an environment for the ethical and responsible use of AI. The book was a success, helping to kickstart meaningful discussions with governments, businesses and civil society across the world on one of the fundamental issues of our times. The book builds on the existing AI debate, focusing on the impact of AI on the manufacturing sector.