Maine AI Conference to explore opportunities, risks and innovations

Artificial intelligence is transforming how people work, live and solve problems. To help the public shape how this powerful technology is adopted and applied in the Pine Tree State, the University of Maine Artificial Intelligence Initiative will convene the second annual Maine AI Conference on June 13 in the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. 

The one-day event will bring together leaders from academia, industry government and the community to explore the challenges and opportunities AI presents for Maine. Discounted early registration is available through May 16.

“With the rise of artificial general intelligence, researchers aspire to build software with human-level reasoning and self-learning,” said Ali Abedi, associate vice president for research and director of the UMaine AI Initiative. “This conference passes the AI light through a prism, showing how it touches everything from infrastructure and education to ethics and security.”

As AI systems grow more powerful and more common, experts say the need for public understanding and deliberate policy has never been greater. Conference sessions will examine how to use AI ethically to address Maine’s workforce shortages, improve business efficiency, enhance access to education and more. At the same time, discussions will focus on emerging concerns such as data privacy, misinformation, security and the impartial distribution of AI’s benefits.

“Artificial intelligence is not a universal solution or existential threat, it’s a tool,” Abedi said. “And just like any tool, how we use it will determine whether it helps or harms. That’s why we hope Mainers will join this conversation now.”

Panels will include faculty from UMaine, the University of Southern Maine, the University of Maine at Augusta, the Roux Institute, Husson University, and Harvard, as well as engineers, attorneys, and policy experts from across the globe. The AI Risks and Regulations session will include representatives from Sen. Angus King’s office and the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

“As we stand on the brink of a new era in technological advancement, the Maine AI Conference symbolizes our commitment to not only keep pace with, but lead in the realm of artificial intelligence,” said Kody Varahramyan, UMaine’s vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School. “This conference serves as a vital nexus for collaboration across sectors. By sharing knowledge and strategy, we can ensure AI works for all Mainers.”

The event is organized by the UMaine AI Initiative in partnership with the UMaine Portland Gateway and faculty from institutions across the University of Maine System. It is supported by the Maine Technology Institute and reflects UMaine’s leadership in AI research and education since the initiative’s launch in 2020.