CSITM to host panel discussion on ‘When AI Joins the Product Team, Who Really Drives Innovation?’
Global thought leaders in AI, data science, and ethics will unite to explore who drives innovation in the age of intelligent machines
30 September, 2025, Bangalore: The Centre for Software and IT Management (CSITM) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), as part of its initiative to promote the dissemination and application of knowledge for the benefit of academic and industry professionals, will host a thought-provoking panel discussion titled ‘When AI Joins the Product Team, Who Really Drives Innovation?’ on Friday, 10 October 2025, at 19:00 hrs IST.
Click here to register: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Abstract:
As artificial intelligence shifts from being a support tool to an active collaborator in decision-making and product design, product managers and innovation leaders face pressing questions. Will human judgment, customer insight, and product vision continue to guide innovation, or will machines increasingly take the lead?
This panel brings together three distinguished scholars whose expertise spans computer science, philosophy, data science, and industry practice, Dr. Anand Rao, Distinguished Service Professor of Applied Data Science & AI, Carnegie Mellon University, and former Global AI Lead at PwC; Dr. David Danks, Professor of Data Science, Philosophy & Policy, University of California, San Diego; Dr. Nisheeth K. Vishnoi, A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of Computer Science, Yale University, and Co-founder of the Computation and Society Initiative at Yale.
Together, they will explore how AI is reshaping the structure of work by distinguishing judgment from execution, and what this means for innovation in both theory and practice. Drawing from recent research and their own experiences, the panelists will discuss challenges such as ethical reasoning in AI-driven environments, accountability in human-AI collaboration, and the role of strategic thinking when automation can deliver polished outcomes without transparent reasoning.
The event will be of value to academics, policymakers, and professionals across industries, offering insights into the skills and frameworks needed to responsibly integrate AI into product teams. The panel will run for one hour, followed by an interactive Q&A session.
About the speakers:
Dr. Anand Rao is a Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and former Global AI Lead at PwC, with extensive expertise in responsible AI systems, strategy, and governance. He has authored multiple books and publications on AI safety and innovation and frequently contributes to global policy initiatives on AI regulation.
Dr. David Danks is a Professor at UC San Diego, soon to join the University of Virginia as the Polk JSF Distinguished University Professor. His research examines the ethical, psychological, and policy implications of AI and robotics, and he has served on the U.S. National AI Advisory Committee.
Dr. Nisheeth K. Vishnoi is Professor of Computer Science at Yale University and co-PI of the $20 million NSF-funded AI Institute TILOS. His research spans algorithms, optimization, and the societal impact of AI. A Fellow of both the ACM and AMS, he is also the author of The Intelligence Loop.
CSITM to host panel discussion on ‘When AI Joins the Product Team, Who Really Drives Innovation?’
Global thought leaders in AI, data science, and ethics will unite to explore who drives innovation in the age of intelligent machines
30 September, 2025, Bangalore: The Centre for Software and IT Management (CSITM) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), as part of its initiative to promote the dissemination and application of knowledge for the benefit of academic and industry professionals, will host a thought-provoking panel discussion titled ‘When AI Joins the Product Team, Who Really Drives Innovation?’ on Friday, 10 October 2025, at 19:00 hrs IST.
Click here to register: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Abstract:
As artificial intelligence shifts from being a support tool to an active collaborator in decision-making and product design, product managers and innovation leaders face pressing questions. Will human judgment, customer insight, and product vision continue to guide innovation, or will machines increasingly take the lead?
This panel brings together three distinguished scholars whose expertise spans computer science, philosophy, data science, and industry practice, Dr. Anand Rao, Distinguished Service Professor of Applied Data Science & AI, Carnegie Mellon University, and former Global AI Lead at PwC; Dr. David Danks, Professor of Data Science, Philosophy & Policy, University of California, San Diego; Dr. Nisheeth K. Vishnoi, A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of Computer Science, Yale University, and Co-founder of the Computation and Society Initiative at Yale.
Together, they will explore how AI is reshaping the structure of work by distinguishing judgment from execution, and what this means for innovation in both theory and practice. Drawing from recent research and their own experiences, the panelists will discuss challenges such as ethical reasoning in AI-driven environments, accountability in human-AI collaboration, and the role of strategic thinking when automation can deliver polished outcomes without transparent reasoning.
The event will be of value to academics, policymakers, and professionals across industries, offering insights into the skills and frameworks needed to responsibly integrate AI into product teams. The panel will run for one hour, followed by an interactive Q&A session.
About the speakers:
Dr. Anand Rao is a Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and former Global AI Lead at PwC, with extensive expertise in responsible AI systems, strategy, and governance. He has authored multiple books and publications on AI safety and innovation and frequently contributes to global policy initiatives on AI regulation.
Dr. David Danks is a Professor at UC San Diego, soon to join the University of Virginia as the Polk JSF Distinguished University Professor. His research examines the ethical, psychological, and policy implications of AI and robotics, and he has served on the U.S. National AI Advisory Committee.
Dr. Nisheeth K. Vishnoi is Professor of Computer Science at Yale University and co-PI of the $20 million NSF-funded AI Institute TILOS. His research spans algorithms, optimization, and the societal impact of AI. A Fellow of both the ACM and AMS, he is also the author of The Intelligence Loop.