Post-Industrial Summit Fall 2024:
AI Agents and Super-Productivity

Kick off the day with a continental breakfast while connecting with fellow delegates.

Our host for the Summit, SRI, has been a pioneer in AI since the 1960s, playing a pivotal role in shaping the field. SRI developed the world’s first mobile robot with the ability to perceive and reason, the “great-grandfather” of self-driving cars and military drones. SRI’s contributions extend to core AI technologies like speech recognition (which powered Siri) and breakthroughs in planning, reasoning, and machine learning.

Decentralization and Agentic AI are set to shatter the core assumptions of organizational structure and function. In this keynote, we will dive into how these forces will fuel the rise of adaptive, just-in-time, autonomous, and self-organizing enterprises. The Post-Industrial Enterprise will be a computational artifact — a dynamic community of humans and AIs working together.

This presentation will explore the latest breakthroughs, from Nvidia's AI Superchips and trillion-parameter model systems to Agent Blueprints. These cutting-edge tools empower enterprises to deploy AI agents capable of handling complex, data-driven tasks. With real-time data integration and lifelike digital humans, these agents seamlessly collaborate with human teams, driving efficiency and transforming business operations across a wide spectrum of industries.

In this session we will explore Cisco's effort to build a multi-agent system ecosystem aimed at revolutionizing AI and automation. Different types of AI agents can collaborate, manage complex workflows, and operate autonomously across distributed environments. Cisco focuses on the development of secure, open, and interoperable infrastructures that can support agentic AI for various applications, including software development, customer service, and real-time system management.

Connect with fellow delegates.

This session explores how AI agents will revolutionize physical and industrial environments. Learn about Japanese industrial giant Hitachi’s pioneering work in Industrial AI to optimize manufacturing, supply chain management, and operational efficiency. We’ll also dive into Archetype AI’s breakthrough “Newton” model, which uses sensor data to interpret and solve complex real-world challenges in real time. Together, these technologies will enable AI agents to operate autonomously, manage workflows, and make real-time decisions, driving a transformative shift across industries.

AI Agents are not limited to IT systems and industrial applications. In this session, we will explore how they will follow us into the metaverse. AI Agents will transform extended reality (XR) experiences by driving real-time decisions and enhancing virtual interactions. From AI-powered avatars to fully autonomous environments, these Agents will reshape how we engage with digital realms, seamlessly blending physical and virtual spaces to create richer, more responsive experiences.

Join your fellow delegates for an energizing lunch and network with industry leaders, innovators, and peers.

AI Agents: An Anthropological Perspective

The Post-Industrial Transition is about more than business, it's a transition into a new kind of human civilization. Basic assumptions about agency, the organization of work, and leadership will be challenged through a combination of decentralization and exponential technology. AI Agents will not just change organizations, they will also change our very culture. We are very fortunate to be able to have this discussion with Dr. Tatyana Mamut, who has an doctorate in anthropology and is the Co-Founder and CEO of Wayfound, an AI startup that provides a central hub for managing agents.

This session will explore how AI agents are revolutionizing operational productivity, both within enterprises and across the entire supply chain. Our expert speakers will discuss practical implementations, highlighting cutting-edge advancements that are driving efficiency, innovation, and agility.In this session we will look using Agents to improve operational productivity, both inside enterprises and across the supply chain.

Shake off the afternoon slump with a caffeine boost and connect with delegates and speakers.

A paradox exists in today's enterprise: despite AI's transformative potential and widespread individual adoption, organizations struggle to systematically capture and scale these benefits across their operations. We'll examine the complex interplay of cultural and organizational factors that create barriers to adoption, from governance and security concerns to change management challenges and skills gaps, and share strategies and emerging best practices for bridging it.

AI Agents are poised to become the primary interface between organizations and their customers. In this session, we will explore how these Agents will help drive growth at every stage of the customer lifecycle—from lead generation to conversion and support.

Mingle with fellow delegates and speakers in a lively atmosphere as you unwind with an open bar and delicious refreshments. This is your chance to strengthen relationships, share ideas, and enjoy engaging conversations in a casual setting.

Join fellow delegates over a warm cup of coffee and a delicious continental breakfast as you prepare for another day of insightful discussions and networking. Let’s set the tone for an inspiring day ahead!

In this session, we will explore the profound impact of AI on the global economy, key industries, and the labor market. AI Agents, while still in their early stages, promise to unleash Super-Productivity, presenting strategic opportunities for investors, startups, and enterprises, along with expected challenges. Join us for an insightful guided tour led by a prominent Stanford research scholar.

.As AI rapidly advances, with Agents representing the latest evolution, investors face complex challenges in capital deployment. Is it safer to bet on platforms or applications? What constitutes a sustainable competitive advantage when new product capabilities can be easily reproduced? Will new business models be necessary? This session will dive into these and other pressing questions while pinpointing the biggest opportunities in AI investment over the next 2-3 years. Gain insights from leading investors on the current landscape and future trajectory of AI investment.

Recharge with a refreshing cup of coffee and take advantage of this mid-morning break to connect with fellow delegates.

Ensembles of AI Agents will play a crucial role in developing new products, business models, and ventures, greatly accelerating these processes. This session will explore the design of scalable multi-agent architectures, both within and across enterprise boundaries.

We will address key challenges such as integrating with external services, managing payments and resource consumption, agent coordination and delegation, and combining deterministic and non-deterministic components. Additionally, we will examine agent marketplaces, dynamic multi-modal user interfaces, and networks of humans and AI Agents. The session will also explore implications for business models and venture building.

As we continue into the second day, join us for a delicious lunch and connect with fellow delegates and speakers. Fuel up and prepare for an inspiring afternoon ahead!

Agents beyond Generative AI: Neuro-Symbolic Computing

In this keynote, Dr. Susmit Jha will discuss a hybrid approach to AI that combines symbolic reasoning, machine learning, and control theory. This approach is known as Neuro-Symbolic Computing and addresses many challenges we see with the use of transformers, including unreliable reasoning, resource consumption, hallucination, lack of long-term memory, inability to learn incrementally, and the lack of explainability. With Neuro-Symbolic Computing we will have a powerful alternative platform to run AI Agents on.

To earn the trust of enterprises and users alike, agent-based systems must demonstrate reliability through predictable performance. They must also include safeguards to prevent damage and hazards while ensuring the protection of private and proprietary data. This session will explore essential strategies to achieve these key goals—critical for successful deployment.

In this final session, we will weave together insights from our two days of learning and exploration. We will discuss how leaders can chart a course forward and transform their organizations to avoid obsolescence. How will AI Agents reshape the transformation process itself? What will the destination look like, and how do we avoid the many pitfalls along the way?

Connect with fellow delegates and speakers as we wrap up the summit. Don’t miss the chance to forge valuable connections before we conclude our journey together!