We recently honored six amazing people at our third annual Future of Humanity Summit in D.C. this August. These innovators are changing the game with their AI and tech work. We’re all about recognizing and supporting cool new ideas that make the world a better place!
The awardees recognized at the Future of Humanity Summit include:
Future of Humanity Award – Terren Peizer
Terren Peizer took home the Future of Humanity Award for his incredible work in transforming industries with AI and other emerging technologies. His efforts are improving lives and pushing boundaries, especially in healthcare, biotechnology, and sustainable tech.
For example, as the Founder and CEO of Ontrak, Inc., Terren is blending AI with telehealth to deliver cutting-edge virtualized healthcare. On top of that, he’s at the helm of other companies like Acuitas Group Holdings, NeurMedix, Inc., BioVie, Inc., and Verde, Inc., driving innovation across the board.
Ultimately, Terren’s vision for the future centers around using AI not just to solve today’s problems, but to spark positive global change for generations to come.
Tech Innovator Award – Dr. Allen Bolourchi
For his exceptional contributions to Generative AI and Machine Learning (ML), Dr. Allen Bolourchi received the Tech Innovator Award. As the Founder of Crystalytic.ai, he’s helping companies use AI and ML to turn data intelligence into actionable insights and smarter business decisions.
Dr. Bolourchi is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California, where he spearheaded the university’s Generative AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) course. Bringing his real-world expertise into the classroom, he’s now teaching and inspiring a fresh wave of leaders in the industry.
Previously, he worked at Apple as a Global AI/ML Technical Product and Program Manager, where he helped advance the machine learning models on the App Store and Arcade. With his deep industry and academic background, Dr. Bolourchi continues to have a hand in shaping the future of AI innovation.
Tech Disrupter Award – Kerry Leigh Miller
Kerry Leigh Miller’s bold and innovative investment strategies earned her the Tech Disrupter Award, celebrating the waves she’s making in the venture capital world.
Kerry leads IDA Ventures as Founder and CEO, guiding a firm that supports both investment and social impact returns within Israel’s vibrant business ecosystem. She is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Overton Venture Capital, an early-stage capital firm that invests in companies addressing changes in consumer behavior.
Her leadership and focus on social impact inspire others around her to support and grow innovative, mission-driven businesses as well.
Tech Visionary Award – Dr. De Kai
Dr. De Kai earned the Tech Visionary Award for his cutting-edge research and strategic leadership in shaping the future of AI. His current roles include serving as a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a distinguished Research Scholar at Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute, and the CTO right here at Ahura AI.
Dr. De Kai has produced over 120 scientific papers on machine learning of human languages. Recognized for his contributions to machine translation and ML foundations for Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft translators, he is among just 17 scientists worldwide known as a “Founding ACL Fellow” by the Association for Computational Linguistics.
Dr. De Kai’s achievements serve as a powerful example for aspiring AI researchers in advancing the field.
Tech Change Maker Award – Amelia Powers Gardner
Amelia Powers Gardner was awarded the Tech Change Maker Award for her groundbreaking work using blockchain tech to modernize how governments are run.
Amelia is a County Commissioner in Utah County and has a rich and diverse professional background with over 15 years of experience in the private sector. Her work inspires global leaders to embrace blockchain technology to build more effective and equitable public systems.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Rick Tumlinson
Rick Tumlinson earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of commitment to advancing technology for the good of humanity.
Rick is the Co-Founder of several space companies and nonprofits, including Deep Space Industries, Space Frontier Foundation, EarthLight Foundation, and SpaceFund. As a pioneer in combining aerospace and sustainable tech, Rick has reshaped the industry, driving game-changing innovations and setting a new standard for leadership in the field.
Closing Thoughts
“These incredible individuals are advancing the field of technology and artificial intelligence and redefining possibilities for innovation to benefit humanity,” said Bryan Talebi, CEO of Ahura AI.
“At Ahura AI, we believe in the power of AI and technology to be a force for good to empower humans to actualize their potential,” he added. “Each awardee has demonstrated a strong commitment to that vision and has delivered significant results on behalf of humanity. Their leadership and achievements are paving the way for a more prosperous world. We look forward to seeing how they will continue to push boundaries and inspire future innovations.”
The 2024 Future of Humanity Summit gathered an incredible group of leaders and innovators, all focused on how to make the world a better place with the help of AI and other emerging technologies. A big highlight was the presentation and signing of the Declaration of Artificial Intelligence for the Future of Humanity, which sets out guidelines for the responsible growth and use of AI as the technology keeps evolving – more about that here.
The journey toward a brighter future continues at next year’s Future of Humanity Summit – we hope to see you there!
