MIT Sloan CIO Symposium Partner Series (Webinar)

This presentation by the President and the Executive Director of the MIT Free Speech Alliance emphasizes the importance of open dialogue, diverse viewpoints, and the scientific method in advancing knowledge. It refers to historical examples of divergent thinking leading to new knowledge, while also highlighting the role of AI in this process. The presentation argues that AI is a tool that supports the scientific method and is strengthened by viewpoint diversity and open critique. For today’s technology leaders, especially CIOs, these values are essential to fostering innovation, resisting groupthink, navigating regulatory pressures, and creating environments where humans and AI collaborate productively. The presentation also highlights MIT's tradition of fearless innovation and problem-solving, and the open dialogue culture that supported its accomplishments, connecting those lessons to the missions, programs, and advocacy of the MIT Free Speech Alliance.