Latest news with #Phorum2025
Technical.ly
28-04-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
AI is driving the fourth industrial revolution — and Philly companies are helping lead the way
AI is no longer a buzzword — it's one of the technologies powering a new industrial revolution, experts agreed at a recent conference in Philadelphia. Industry 4.0, the sweeping digitization of how goods are designed, used and maintained, is being driven by new technology, changes in workforce demographics, reindustrialization, regulation enforcement and a push towards sustainability, said Nick Lopez, principal at Deloitte, said at Phorum 2025. From life sciences to advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies are reshaping entire industries, panelists said at the event last week. 'AI, [Internet of Things], 3D geospatial data, the list goes on and these technologies are accelerating very quickly,' Lopez said. 'There's huge potential to improve efficiency and productivity across industries, which will have a positive impact on all of our lives.' More than just efficiency, Industry 4.0 is about reimagining what's possible when technology augments human expertise, whether that's catching errors before they happen, building smarter cities or accelerating life-saving medical breakthroughs This fourth wave of industrial progress builds on previous revolutions — mechanization, electrification and computerization — by adding a new digital layer. AI now joins forces with technologies like the Internet of Things and digital twins, virtual models of real-world systems that can be used to simulate and improve operations in real time. More AI pharma coming soon Right now, AI is good at generating content and analyzing data, but a 'neuroscience approach' to AI is what's coming, said Denise Holt, cofounder of the SpatialWeb Foundation. 'AI that can actually mimic biological intelligence and model predictions for the future,' she said. 'To be able to have an understanding of the world and operate with knowledge of a digital representation of visible things.' One version of this is active inference AI, which takes in sensory data, collects feedback and updates its understanding of its surroundings, she said. Another example is spatial web protocol, which would be a digital representation of physical things. Similar work is happening in the life sciences industry with knowledge graphs, which collect information about what happens in manufacturing and can then be used to make predictions. While pharma companies face tight regulations, momentum is building, said Vishal Prasad, CTO at GSK. 'People are adopting it,' he said. 'With an LLM engine and basically a knowledge graph behind it that is really allowing them to make very good decisions in a very short period of time with very little effort.' AI infrastructure analysis to plan construction Companies are investing in tools that don't just process data, but adapt and learn from it. Philadelphia-based companies are among those pushing the frontier. Patrick Cozzi, chief platform officer at Bentley Systems and founder of Cesium, described how Cesium worked with Epic Games to create 3D tiles for real-time digital modeling. The tech started in gaming, but now powers everything from urban planning to national defense. Cozzi explained how drones, GPS sensors and dash cams are being deployed to detect infrastructure issues like broken towers and cracked roadways. AI is even helping plan developments more intelligently — estimating parking needs, for instance, before a single shovel hits dirt. The next hurdle: data security Still, security and data ownership are looming concerns for developers, especially in regulated industries like healthcare. 'The protocol of the spatial web, it has security baked in,' Holt said. 'Whereas right now, we're trying to use all these emerging technologies in the most unsecured environment, the World Wide Web.' In this context, the security permissions would have set expirations, she added. Plus, there is so much data out there and so much more data that will be coming in, companies have to think about how they're keeping up with it and its security, Lopez said. 'We're seeing more of this in terms of being able to analyze what's on your servers, what's in your cloud, understanding what's important,' Lopez said. 'Where it needs to be stored, in terms of security policies. Sarah Huffman is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Technical.ly
11-04-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Phorum 2025 will spotlight AI's impact on Philadelphia's workforce and enterprise
As artificial intelligence evolves into an ever-present business practice, Philadelphia technologists and entrepreneurs are gathering to discuss its real-world impacts on local innovation at the Phorum Technology Conference. The annual event, organized by us here at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT), returns on Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Comcast Technology Center's Ralph Roberts Forum, with a reception to follow. The event comes at a time when the role of AI in daily life and business operations is expanding. How rapidly? That's another question. A recent Pew Research Center report found that while nearly 80% of AI experts say Americans interact with artificial intelligence constantly or several times daily, only 27% of U.S. adults perceive this level of frequent interaction. The study also revealed a notable gap between AI experts and the general public regarding the perceived usefulness of AI-driven tools like chatbots: while 83% of experts find them at least somewhat useful in daily life, only about half of the general public (49%) shares this view. Phorum is a place to discuss these developments in person. The keynote features Vanessa Z. Chan, vice dean of innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania. Named to one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People lists, Chan's experience in academia, startups, large corporations and government gives her a unique vantage point on how innovation translates from concept to commercial impact. Previously appointed by President Biden as chief commercialization officer at the US Department of Energy, Chan was responsible for advancing private sector adoption of new clean energy technologies. Dean Miller, CEO of PACT, highlighted the conference's emphasis on tangible outcomes. 'Each year, we strive to create a platform where C-level executives, investors, startups and industry pioneers unite to explore the most pressing challenges and opportunities in emerging technology,' Miller said. 'As AI continues to revolutionize the enterprise landscape, Phorum 2025 will provide the insights, connections and strategies needed to drive meaningful business impact.' Learn and connect on various tracks Conference sessions will address multiple key areas: Workforce evolution: Examining AI's role in productivity enhancements and the changing landscape of employee engagement. Organizational metamorphosis: Real-world case studies on strategic tech implementations that drive organizational collaboration and innovation. Visionary founders' perspectives: Insights from enterprise technology leaders who have successfully navigated market disruptions. Investment intelligence: Expert analysis of current trends in technology investments and effective risk management. The embodied AI revolution: Evaluating practical business use-cases and considerations for integrating robotics, drones, and other embodied AI solutions. Digital transformation mastery: Best practices for developing actionable digital strategies and achieving measurable business outcomes. Dive into the Demo Pit Returning this year is Phorum's Demo Pit, a competition for startups to present their products directly to potential clients, partners and investors. Participating companies will pitch their technology solutions live from 9 to 10 a.m., competing for 'Best in Show.' The winner gains automatic entry into PACT's Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference pitch competition this fall. Past Demo Pit participants have collectively raised over $350 million, and several have achieved successful exits. Phorum continues to be a central fixture in the innovation ecosystem, known for fostering dialogue around practical tech strategies rather than theoretical promises. As the Pew report highlights, businesses face a critical task in closing the awareness and trust gaps in AI adoption, making this year's conversations especially timely. We hope you will join us! For registration details and further information, visit PACT's Phorum 2025 page.
