Title: Demystifying AI: Architecting Trust, Impact, and Opportunity in the Age of Intelligent Systems Abstract: AI is no longer a distant future; it’s part of how we work, build, and make decisions today. But as AI innovation speeds up, early-career professionals often face a key question: How do we engage with AI in ways that are ethical, meaningful, and future-proof? In this session, we’ll cut through the noise and hype to explore how AI is truly transforming industries, from smart infrastructure and digital services to enterprise systems and customer experience. We’ll also look at what it takes to design AI systems that are not only smart but also trustworthy. Key takeaways will include: – Real-world examples of AI adoption across engineering and customer-facing domains – Principles of responsible AI design, data governance, and secure architecture – Why AI strategy must prioritize trust, transparency, and human alignment – How young professionals can prepare for and thrive in AI-driven, interdisciplinary careers This talk aims to inspire and equip early-career technologists not just to adapt to AI, but to help shape its responsible and scalable future—with curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Speaker(s): Srinivas, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/495791