Exploring the Future of AI and Addressing Trust Challenges

The University of Maryland MATRIX Lab’s Autonomy Summit will drive innovation by gathering forward thinkers in government, industry, and academia. At the summit, AI and autonomy experts will talk about possible future roles for these technologies and will address the important challenges that come with them, including issues of trust and confidence. Participants will be able to share their own expertise during panels and breakout sessions.

Join us on November 14 at the USMSM SMART Building in Southern Maryland to help build a framework for developing true trust and justified confidence in AI and autonomy. These steps will guide our own work and how we educate the future workforce.

Meet Our Presenters

Maynard Holliday
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies
Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
Keynote 1: “Criticality of Emerging Technologies in Defense, Our Nation and the World Today”

Mr. Maynard A. Holliday oversees investment and capability analysis of the Pentagon's critical technology areas, managing, providing oversight, and guiding choices for each one.
The areas include 5G; Advanced Computing & Software; Directed Energy; Human-Machine Interfaces; Hypersonics; Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems; Integrated Sensing & Cyber; Microelectronics; Renewable Energy Generation & Storage; Space Technology; and Trusted Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy. Read Mr. Holliday’s full biography here

At the summit, Mr. Holliday will present our first keynote, “Criticality of Emerging Technologies in Defense, Our Nation, and the World Today.” He’ll discuss building a foundation for these technologies as well as using them.

Dr. Kimberly Sablon
Principal Director for Trusted AI and Autonomy
Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
Keynote 2: “AI and Autonomy Today and to Lead the World Tomorrow”

Dr. Kimberly Sablon oversees Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and autonomy research activities across the Department of Defense enterprise. She also has responsibility for shaping the strategic direction for integrated AI and autonomy with an emphasis on trust and responsible decision making. Read Dr. Sablon’s full biography here

At the summit, Dr. Sablon will present our second keynote, “AI and Autonomy Today and to Lead the World Tomorrow.” She will outline the challenges being discovered as we implement autonomous technologies.

Christopher Collins
Executive Director, Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessments
Office of the Undersecretary of Defense Research and Engineering
Panel: “AI and Autonomy on the Edge Today”

As the Executive Director of Developmental Test, Evaluation, and Assessments, Mr. Christopher C. Collins helps support the Department of Defense's acquisition programs using innovative and efficient DT&E strategies. This ensures production readiness and fielded systems to meet Warfighter/User needs; improves the Defense Acquisition T&E workforce "practice of the profession;" and advances T&E policy and guidance. Read Mr. Collins’ full biography here

At the summit, Mr. Collins will be involved with the “AI and Autonomy on the Edge Today” panel. The panel session will build off Dr. Sablon’s keynote, focusing on the AI and autonomy being developed and implemented today. It will also cover the specific and unique aspects of AI and autonomy, including edge and centralized AI and autonomy.

Published October 15, 2024