Penn State students shine at The Global Impact Forum 2024

Three Penn State students took the stage at The Global Impact Forum 2024 to share the knowledge and practical experience they’ve acquired while using artificial intelligence and machine learning as part of programs offered through the Nittany AI Alliance. Their presentation was part of the inaugural GSV x Penn State event held Sept. 22-25 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

As students, Zach Walnock, Javier Pozo and Vishnu Venugopal took on multiple positions with the Nittany AI Alliance, including leading winning teams in the Nittany AI Challenge, taking on leadership roles within the Nittany AI Student Society and leading projects in the internship-based Nittany AI Advance program.

Walnock, who is earning a double major in computer science and mathematics, said the experience set him up for an internship with Cranium, one of the sponsors of TGIF 2024, and set him on a path for his future career.

“I worked for Cranium as an AI engineer. I was mostly responsible for researching the utility of AI Agents in security, specifically for the application of replicating and red teaming a machine learning pipeline,” said Walnock. “I loved the research component of my work at Cranium, and testing out new and developing technologies as they were emerging. The people at Cranium were amazing, and it was without a doubt one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as an aspiring developer.”

Pozo is a computer science major with a minor in mathematics in the College of Engineering. He said TGIF was a fantastic experience as it provided access to companies that he would not have been able to network with otherwise.

“It was inspiring to engage with industry leaders and hear their perspectives on the future of AI and where we should focus our efforts. I also really enjoyed being part of the Higher Education Student Spotlight,” Pozo said. “Moving forward, I plan to leverage these experiences to network with more professionals in the field, with the goal of staying at the forefront of AI development. I see myself either continuing in this fast-paced development environment or moving into project management to oversee the bigger picture of these innovations.”

Daren Coudriet, director of Innovation for Penn State Outreach and executive director for the Nittany AI Alliance, said the students who participated in the Higher Education Student Spotlight and panel discussion at TGIF are excellent examples of what’s possible when students are provided the opportunity to use AI for good to tackle real world problems.

“These types of experiential learning opportunities offer real world experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. Not only do our students refine their technical abilities through these endeavors, but they also cultivate critical soft skills, team collaboration, client relations, role definition, problem-solving and the translation of business requirements into actionable solutions,” Coudriet said. “These competencies not only enhance their personal growth but also add substantial value to enterprises like Cranium, WorkMerk and CentralReach contributing to AI-driven economic growth across the commonwealth and beyond."

TGIF 2024 brought together more than 500 people from education, entrepreneurship, investment and other industries in September at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The theme was Accelerating AI for Good which presented AI as a pathway to foster upward social mobility and global change.

Arndrea Waters King, president of the Drum Major Institute, and who was accompanied by her husband, Martin Luther King III, delivered a passionate keynote address about their roles in creating change in the global fight against inequity, injustice and hate crimes.

“Let me remind you of something that Coretta Scott King said — you earn it, you win it, in every generation,” Waters King said. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, stand up for what is right, even when it’s difficult, and never ever underestimate the power of your actions.”

More than 100 interactive workshops, panel discussions and presentations were peppered throughout a packed agenda where at the heart of it were the students who are embarking on their own movement of upward social mobility through the solutions they created and shared during two days of Student Spotlights.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi facilitated a panel discussion about the Pennsylvania economy with Rick Siger, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and Abby Smith, president and CEO for Team PA.

Representatives from Pennsylvania academic institutions such as Penn State, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Drexel University and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology joined forces with national universities like Stanford University, Rice University, Arizona State University and the University of Southern California to underscore the importance of economic development and positive impact through education and innovation.

Industry leaders such as Deloitte, Accenture, Comcast, Google, KPMG, Microsoft and Boston Consulting Group joined the conversation as attendees explored how they can position AI as a central force for reshaping the world for the better.

For more information, visit TGIF 2024.