DTS hosts successful conference on AI and emerging tech
UC Clermont College Learning Commons staff present “Burning the Midnight Oil: Using AI to Create Asynchronous Tutoring Solutions.” From left, Valentine Johns, Don Peteroy, Bethany Brown and Cheyenne Riley.
Hundreds of University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff members turned out for the Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) AI & Emerging Technology Symposium Thursday in UC's Tangeman University Center.
“The DTS AI & Emerging Technology Symposium brought the UC community together to explore the applications and implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in modern society,” said UC Vice President and Chief Digital Officer Bharath Prabhakaran.
From left Josette Riep, assistant vice president, UC Digital Technology Solutions, with graduate student presenter EJ Agoba.
“All the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, making the symposium a huge step in advancing digital awareness and literacy across the university,” Prabhakaran continued.
The daylong event explored topics around AI and robotic process automation; smart campus innovation; and extended reality, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
Twenty-nine speakers from 16 different colleges and units presented during the symposium's breakout sessions.
UC alum Nick Ernest, chief architect, Thales, Inc., presents the morning keynote address at the symposium.
From left Josette Riep, assistant vice president UC Digital Technology Solutions; Nick Ernest, chief architect, Thales, Inc.; Bharath Prabhakaran, UC vice president and chief digital officer; Yannick Assoud, executive vice-president, avionics, and Thales executive committee member, Thales, Inc. and Kelly Cohen, Brian H. Rowe Endowed Chair in aerospace engineering, UC College of Engineering and Applied Science.
The event also featured two keynote presentations from industry experts.
UC alum Nick Ernest, PhD, and his Thales Avionics, Inc., colleague Executive Vice-President, Avionics & Thales Executive Committee Member Yannick Assoud delivered the morning keynote address.
Ernest, chief architect at Thales, created sophisticated artificial intelligence capable of outmaneuvering fighter pilots in simulations using fuzzy logic. As part of a 2023 memorandum of understanding with UC’s Office of Research, Thales shares its state-of-the-art transparent artificial intelligence system, which uses fuzzy logic, with UC students and faculty. UC aerospace engineering professor Kelly Cohen introduced Ernest, his former student, at the symposium.
From left, Bharath Prabhakaran, UC vice president and chief digital officer with afternoon keynote presenter Pete Blackshaw, founder and CEO, BrandRank.AI.
Pete Blackshaw, founder and CEO of BrandRank.AI, delivered the afternoon keynote address.
BrandRank.AI, a Cincinnati-based startup and SaaS platform and service, helps brands measure, protect, and grow trust through the power of AI-driven search and discovery.
For more information about AI initiatives and how we’re working to support AI-driven innovation across UC, visit uc.edu/ai.
Related Stories
‘Designer drug’ shows early neuroprotective signal in acute ischemic stroke
October 28, 2025
Medscape highlighted new trial results led by the University of Cincinnati's Eva Mistry that found an experimental drug shows promise in protecting injured brain cells for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Meet the young talent reshaping Cincinnati’s startup scene
October 28, 2025
Five University of Cincinnati students were honored for their impactful entrepreneurship on the Cincy Inno Under 25 list. We’ll explain what makes each student – and their startup – stand out.
Is menstrual fluid ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
October 27, 2025
The Guardian recently reported that period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions — including endometriosis.