### Ars Technica and IBM Collaborate for Two Thrilling In-Person Events on AI and IT Infrastructure
**Hello, Arsians!** Following the success of last year’s in-person gathering in Houston, where we teamed up with IBM to discuss the future of IT against the impressive backdrop of Space Center Houston, we’re excited to share that we’re returning with not just one, but **two** in-person events this year. These gatherings will concentrate on the swiftly changing landscape of IT infrastructure, generative AI, and cybersecurity. This time, we’re going bi-coastal, with events in **San Jose, California** and **Washington, DC**.
Both gatherings will showcase expert-led panel discussions, delving into the future of IT, AI, and data management. Each event will wrap up with a happy hour, giving attendees the chance to socialize, network, and share thoughts from the day over cocktails. Here’s all the essential information about these exciting events.
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### **September 18: San Jose, California**
Our first event, titled **”Beyond the Buzz: An Infrastructure Future with GenAI and What Comes Next,”** will be held in **San Jose, California** on **September 18**. It will concentrate on the repercussions of generative AI (GenAI) on data management and IT infrastructure.
#### **Venue: The Computer History Museum**
We’re hosting the event at the **Computer History Museum**, an ideal setting for conversations about the future of technology. The museum is a must-see for tech aficionados, showcasing the rich narrative of computing and its societal impacts. Just be cautious not to spill anything—we wouldn’t want to be liable for damaging any of the exhibits!
#### **Panel Discussions and Speakers**
We have assembled a series of insightful panels featuring industry authorities who will investigate the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Here’s an overview of the panels:
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#### **1. Infrastructure’s Environmental Footprint: Navigating Impacts and Responsibilities**
As AI pushes large-scale infrastructure investments higher, the energy requirements of these systems are increasing dramatically. This panel will address the environmental effects of AI and hybrid cloud infrastructures, with a special focus on energy consumption and the hurdles of measuring ROI for compute-heavy AI tools.
**Panelists:**
– **[Jeffrey Ball](https://sfi.stanford.edu/people/jeffrey-ball)**, Scholar-In-Residence, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy & Finance, Stanford University
– **[Subbu Iyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/skiyer)**, Group Vice President, Data Science, Albertsons
– **[Joanna Wong](https://hk.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wong-6027b5314)**, Solutions Architect, Storage for AI, HPC, IBM
**Moderator:** Lee Hutchinson, Senior Technology Editor, Ars Technica
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#### **2. Identifying Infrastructure Vulnerabilities with Today’s AI Tools**
AI serves not only as a creation tool but also as a formidable weapon for cybercriminals. This panel will discuss how AI can be harnessed to uncover vulnerabilities in infrastructure and code, and how threat actors are utilizing these resources to conduct more sophisticated attacks. We will also explore strategies for safeguarding your data in this evolving threat environment.
**Panelists:**
– **[Patrick Gould](https://www.diu.mil/team/patrick-gould)**, Director, Cyber & Telecoms Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
– **[Ram Parasuraman](https://mediacenter.ibm.com/media/theCube+interview+with+Ram+Parasuraman+%E2%80%93+Beyond+Firewalls/1_suy2fx9h)**, Executive Director, Data & Resiliency, IBM Storage
– **[Stephen Goldschidt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgoldschmidt)**, Senior Staff Security Engineer, Box
**Moderator:** Lee Hutchinson, Senior Technology Editor, Ars Technica
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#### **3. Infrastructure’s Environmental Footprint: Navigating Impacts and Responsibilities**
This panel will shed light on the necessity of secure and strategic infrastructure planning. We’ll examine how to develop a flexible infrastructure strategy that can accommodate any workload while steering clear of common mistakes.
**Panelists:**
– **[Pete Brey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/petebrey)**, Global Product Executive, IBM
– **[Anupam Singh](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/anupam-singh)**, VP of AI & Growth Engineering, Roblox
**Moderator:** Lee Hutchinson, Senior Technology Editor, Ars Technica
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### **October 29: Washington, DC**
Our second event is scheduled for **October 29** in **Washington, DC**, and will pivot towards policy and compliance in the AI era. Titled **”AI in DC: Privacy, Compliance, and Making
