The convergence of ethics and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage at the 2024 TIME100 Summit, where CEOs from leading start-ups and tech giants highlighted the need to align AI development with ethical principles. Held on Wednesday, the summit brought together influential voices from diverse fields to address pressing global challenges.
Rosanne Kincaid-Smith, Group Chief Operating Officer of Northern Data Group and a signature partner of the TIME100 Summit, emphasized the interconnectedness of regulation and innovation. “Regulation and innovation are two sides of the same coin,” she said, advocating for active engagement from tech companies in shaping better regulatory frameworks. “Not actively contributing through lobbying would be a huge miss for us.”
Addressing the often polarizing debate about AI’s impact, Kincaid-Smith urged a shift in perspective. “We forget to remind ourselves that Artificial Intelligence is artificial. It’s not natural—it’s an artifact of our own learning, of human culture, of human history. It’s incumbent on us to make sure it reflects the best of us,” she stated, underscoring the human responsibility to ensure AI serves society positively.
IBM’s Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Justina Nixon-Saintil, highlighted the company’s commitment to using AI for environmental solutions. She shared details about IBM’s collaboration with NASA to develop an AI foundation model that aims to improve the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of weather forecasting, a critical tool for tackling climate change.
Adding to the climate-focused discourse, Mathias Wikström, CEO of Doconomy—a company equipping banks with tools to promote global climate action—stressed the importance of climate literacy. He emphasized that informed awareness is essential to achieving climate justice on a global scale.
The TIME100 Summit, renowned for gathering visionaries and leaders from diverse sectors, once again spotlighted actionable solutions for building a better future. This year’s summit featured speakers from fields as varied as politics, science, business, health, and culture.
Notable participants included actor Elliot Page, designer Tory Burch, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, WNBA champion A’ja Wilson, celebrated author Margaret Atwood, NYSE President Lynn Martin, comedian Alex Edelman, AI expert Professor Yoshua Bengio, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and actor and activist Jane Fonda, among others.
The event’s discussions reinforced the urgent need for ethical responsibility, innovative solutions, and collective action in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, particularly in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and climate change
