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Inaugural University of Indianapolis AI Summit to Help Leaders and Businesses Put Artificial Intelligence to Work, Responsibly

March 4, 2026 in Press Releases

UIndy AI Summit

The University of Indianapolis will host the inaugural University of Indianapolis AI Summit on April 9 to bring business leaders, policymakers and technology professionals together to explore how to use artificial intelligence responsibly in ways that benefit people and strengthen organizations and Indiana’s economy. The summit will feature global technology leaders including Babak Hodjat, chief AI officer at Cognizant and the primary inventor of the technology behind Apple’s Siri, and Justina Nixon-Saintil, the vice president of corporate social responsibility and chief impact officer at IBM.

As artificial intelligence increasingly moves into daily operations for business and nonprofits, many organizations are struggling to translate pilot programs and experimentation into tools that solve real-world problems and strengthen operations. The theme of the inaugural summit is “AI That Works For People, Organizations, and Society.” Throughout the event, attendees will get a better understanding for how to practically and responsibly use AI in ways that drive technological advancement without sacrificing human judgment and creativity.

“Indiana’s future competitiveness and reputation as a business-friendly state depend on how effectively we harness emerging technologies,” said University of Indianapolis President Tanuja Singh. “Artificial intelligence presents extraordinary opportunities for Hoosiers, but it also demands thoughtful leadership and accountability. By bringing global leaders and innovators to the UIndy campus, we are creating space for an important conversation about responsible innovation that can strengthen our workforce and our state.”

The conversation at the inaugural UIndy AI Summit will be headlined by globally recognized leaders whose work is shaping how AI is being deployed across industries, including:

  • Babak Hodjat — Chief AI officer at Cognizant, where he leads Advance AI Labs bringing advance AI solutions to businesses for a $21 billion technology company with 350,000 employees worldwide.
  • Justina Nixon-Saintil — Vice president of corporate social responsibility and chief impact officer at IBM, leading global initiatives to build an AI-prepared talent pipeline and advance social innovation.

In addition to keynote addresses, the summit will include moderated discussions and industry panels focused on the state of AI in Indiana, how organizations are redesigning skills and leadership for the future of work, and showcase examples of how businesses are applying AI today to drive efficiency and a competitive advantage. Additional speakers and panelists will be announced in the coming weeks. Registration also includes a networking lunch designed to facilitate cross-sector conversations among attendees.

The inaugural University of Indianapolis AI Summit will take place April 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center on the University of Indianapolis campus. Space is limited. Additional details and registration information are available at aisummit.uindy.edu.

Members of the media seeking additional information about the event may contact UIndy’s Director of Public & Media Relations Dan Klein at kleind@uindy.edu.