Var Shankar

Var Shankar Speaking Topics

• AI and the Future of Work: Navigating the New Labor Landscape

  We’re standing at a crossroads where artificial intelligence is both optimizing our productivity and challenging the very nature of work. From scriptwriters and actors in Hollywood grappling with AI’s capacity to generate content, to accountants, lawyers, and marketers who increasingly rely on automated tools, we must consider what human creativity and critical thinking look like in an AI-driven future. This talk explores how AI is reshaping industries, illuminating which jobs are at risk of displacement and which could flourish. We’ll examine how to future-proof ourselves and our teams by cultivating uniquely human skills—such as empathy, complex problem-solving, and adaptability—that machines can’t replicate.

  Informed by recent developments in entertainment and tech, we’ll discuss the practical measures organizations can take to adapt their workforces. Rather than viewing AI as an existential threat, we’ll frame it as an invitation to re-envision roles and design more meaningful, human-centered work. You’ll come away with a roadmap for reskilling, strategic planning, and organizational leadership that embraces automation—without losing the human touch.

  Attendee Results:

  • Recognize the implications of AI across diverse industries, using current Hollywood disruptions as a lens.
  • Identify the core “future-proof” skills that will remain essential.
  • Learn strategies for workforce adaptation, including upskilling and role redesign.
  • Explore ways to stay competitive by leveraging AI as a tool, not a replacement.

• Policy Approaches to AI: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility

  With AI advancing at a faster pace than many anticipated, policymakers worldwide face a challenge: how do we encourage groundbreaking innovation while safeguarding society against potential harms? In this talk, we dissect the divergent regulatory paths taken by America, European Union, and China—unpacking the philosophical and practical underpinnings of each region’s approach. From the EU’s rigorous legal frameworks and ethical oversight to China’s state-led initiatives and America’s market-driven mindset, each has its own balancing act between fostering competitiveness and mitigating risks.

  We’ll explore whether it’s more effective to regulate AI through broad, horizontal laws that capture the technology’s myriad uses or through sector-specific rules that adapt to context. We’ll also address whether our preoccupation with AI’s dangers might inadvertently stifle innovation—and discuss how to find equilibrium in policy discourse. Attendees will learn how governments, businesses, and civil society can collaborate to shape AI’s future responsibly, ensuring that progress doesn’t come at the expense of human rights, privacy, or social equity.

  Attendee Results:

  • Compare and contrast the policy approaches of America, EU, and China.
  • Understand the pros and cons of sector-specific vs. horizontal AI regulation.
  • Gain insights into how fear-driven narratives might hinder innovation.
  • Learn tools for engaging policymakers and stakeholders in constructive AI governance.

• Agentic AI: Building Tomorrow’s Business Strategy Today

  Generative AI has already transformed industries, but a new wave—Agentic AI—is poised to redefine how organizations operate and compete. Unlike generative models that simply produce text or images, agentic systems can autonomously adapt, learn, and take actions in real time. This talk demystifies the concept of Agentic AI and examines why it matters to businesses of every size. We’ll delve into the competitive advantages of harnessing AI agents, such as streamlined decision-making, predictive market moves, and automated workflow optimization, while also confronting the ethical and practical dilemmas that arise when machines act on their own.

  Through real-world case studies and futuristic scenarios, we’ll explore strategies that allow companies to integrate agentic systems responsibly. From developing robust governance frameworks to upskilling your workforce and safeguarding against unforeseen risks, you’ll learn the keys to navigating this emerging frontier. The outcome: a forward-looking roadmap to ensure that your organization not only survives the next wave of AI transformation but becomes a pioneer in it.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand the difference between generative AI and “agentic” AI, and why it matters.
  • Discover how autonomous AI can optimize operations, customer engagement, and product innovation.
  • Identify the ethical, legal, and reputational challenges of deploying agentic systems.
  • Leave with a strategic framework to integrate Agentic AI into your organization for long-term success.