The Mitchell Lecture Series Examines Ethics in AI with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury
The Ross School of Business recently welcomed Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, chief scientist of Parity Consulting and founder and general partner of Parity Responsible Innovation Fund, as the speaker for the third annual Mitchell Lecture Series.
The Mitchell Lecture is presented every year by the Mitchell Program for Business Ethics and Communications at Michigan Ross, and highlights industry and thought leaders who are making an impact in media and business and who demonstrate the importance of ethics in their everyday work.
Chowdhury presented a talk titled, “AI and Ethics: How AI is Helping to Impact the Next Century’s Innovation.” To start, she presented a timeline of the evolution of artificial intelligence and the ways it has been used in society. She then went on to explain the emergence of responsible AI and how companies have started to consider how AI can be pragmatically implemented to build a better world and impact society.
Drawing off her personal experience and expertise, Chowdhury explained some of the issues with AI models while also presenting an optimistic outlook for the future. She explored how AI can be governed responsibly, how companies can engage with AI in a positive manner, and how individuals can provide structured public feedback by exposing and eliminating algorithmic bias.
Celebrating donor-funded scholarships at Michigan Ross
Prior to the Mitchell Lecture, donors, scholars, and staff gathered in the Davidson Winter Garden for the annual Donors and Scholars Celebration, which recognizes the impact that donor-funded scholarships have on students. It also provides an opportunity for the student recipients of donor-funded scholarships to meet and network with their sponsors.
This year, the inaugural Legacy of Excellence Award was presented to Mitchell Mondry, AB ’82/JD ’86/MBA ’86, founder and manager of M Group, in recognition of his philanthropy and support of University of Michigan students. Mondry and his scholarship recipient, Dominic Chumich, MBA ’24, were both invited to give brief remarks at the start of the Mitchell Lecture.
The Mitchell Lecture is funded by the Patricia W. Mitchell Trusts which, in 2019, endowed $5 million to U-M to establish the Mitchell Program honoring the legacy of John H. Mitchell, Columbia Pictures Television founder, and his wife, Patricia Mitchell. In addition to the Mitchell Lecture Series, the Mitchell Program supports students at Michigan Ross and the U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts through internship and scholarship funds that are used to support students in the entertainment industry and students who are dedicated to ethical business practices.
