Rise of the AI Economy: The Impact of Data Centers on Society (hybrid)

Join In-Person or Virtually, Free, and Open to All
 

*NOTE TIME & LOCATION FOR THIS PROGRAM!*
This event is not held in Charlottesville. 

UVA | Northern Virginia—Fairfax Campus
8095 Innovation Park Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031

Free parking on-site in the C parking garage.
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/376b8da2bb.html

The livestream starts at 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Overview

The explosive growth of artificial intelligence has transformed data centers into critical infrastructure for the modern economy. Across Virginia and around the world, investment in data centers is reshaping energy systems, regional economic development, workforce needs, public policy, and the future of innovation. This conversation will explore the forces driving unprecedented demand for data infrastructure and examine the opportunities and challenges that accompany its expansion.

Drawing on expertise in artificial intelligence, data science, ethics, and technology policy, the panel of knowledge leaders, moderated by Greg Fairchild, Dean of UVA | Northern Virginia, will discuss how data centers are influencing economic competitiveness, sustainability, national security, and responsible AI development. Discover a multidisciplinary perspective on one of the most consequential technology and infrastructure trends of our time.

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AGENDA

6:00 - 7:00 PM: Reception
7:00 - 8:15 PM ET: Livestreamed Panel Discussion
8:15 - 8:45 PM: Post-Reception

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Faculty Speakers

Greg Fairchild, (moderator) Isidore Horween Research Professor of Business Administration; Associate Dean for Washington, D.C.; Area Initiatives and Academic Director of Public Policy and Entrepreneurship; Dean and CEO of UVA | Northern Virginia

Greg Fairchild is the Isidore Horween Research Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and associate dean for Washington, D.C., area initiatives. He is also the Dean and CEO of UVA | Northern Virginia. Fairchild is a nationally recognized scholar of entrepreneurship, strategy, and economic development. His work examines how institutions, markets, and leadership shape economic opportunity and long-term growth. Since 2001, Fairchild has taught strategic management, entrepreneurship, and ethics in Darden's MBA and Executive Education programs. His research on community and economic development is likewise renowned. He is the author of Emerging Domestic Markets, a book that highlights innovative practices for broadening the reach of financial services. As moderator, he will guide a discussion on the economic, technological, and societal implications of the rapid expansion of data-center infrastructure.

Peter Beling, Professor of Data Science, School of Data Science

Peter Beling is a Professor in the University of Virginia School of Data Science whose research focuses on resilient and mission-aligned artificial intelligence, cyber resilience, trusted systems, and decision-making in complex environments. His work spans large language models, reinforcement learning, and the integration of AI systems into critical operational settings, including national security applications. Beling has held numerous leadership roles at UVA and has contributed extensively to research at the intersection of systems engineering, machine learning, and organizational resilience. His perspective will help illuminate the technical and strategic drivers behind the growth of data centers and the infrastructure required to support next-generation AI systems.

Renée Cummings, Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Data Science

Renée Cummings is Professor of Practice in the University of Virginia School of Data Science, an internationally recognized AI ethicist, and UVA’s first Data Activist-in-Residence. A VentureBeat AI Innovator Award recipient and nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Cummings is widely known for her work on responsible AI, data ethics, public-interest technology, and AI governance. Drawing on a multidisciplinary background that includes criminology, psychology, and public policy, she examines how emerging technologies can advance innovation while promoting equity, accountability, and public trust. Her contributions to the discussion will address the ethical, social, and policy dimensions of the expanding data-center ecosystem and the AI economy it enables.

Patrick Higgins, Managing Director, LaCrosse Institute for Ethical AI in Business, Darden School of Business

Patrick Higgins is affiliated with the University of Virginia’s LaCross Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, where his work focuses on the governance, responsible deployment, and societal implications of AI technologies. His engagement activities examine how institutions can balance innovation with ethical stewardship, particularly in areas where emerging technologies intersect with public policy, organizational decision-making, and social impact. Higgins brings an important perspective on the governance challenges posed by rapidly expanding digital infrastructure and the responsibilities that accompany large-scale AI development.

This UVA Lifetime Learning event is in partnership with UVA Darden School of Business with support from the UVA Club of Fairfax.

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This Lifetime Learning program is part of the More Than The Score faculty lecture series. All talks are free, open to all, and held in person and virtually.