Dr. Vishnu S. Pendyala
AI or Die - or AI and Die?
Abstract:
We stand at the most extraordinary inflection point in human history. Artificial intelligence is no longer a tool. It is becoming a force that defines how we work, create, learn, and even imagine the future. The question is not simply whether we embrace AI, but how we do so wisely, courageously, and humanely. This keynote explores the unprecedented potential of AI to solve global challenges alongside its capacity to amplify inequality, misinformation, and existential risk.
Will humanity’s failure to embrace AI mean obsolescence, or will uncritical adoption of AI’s unchecked power lead us to self-destruction? This keynote challenges the stark dichotomy and existential tension in its title. AI or die refers to the risk of being left behind in a world accelerating toward intelligence-driven progress, and AI and die refers to the peril of losing our humanity to the very systems we’ve built. Yet between these extremes lies a more hopeful path: to live and thrive with AI.
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping every facet of human existence, from the economy and creativity to ethics and survival itself, the question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to live with it. Through vivid examples, philosophical reflection, deep insights, and calls to action, this talk explores how we can harness AI not as our replacement but as our amplifier; not as our fate, but as our partner. The need of the hour is to reimagine what it means to be human in the age of machines and to build a future where technology serves our highest aspirations, not our fears. Attendees will be challenged to confront not only the technological trajectory of AI but also the moral and societal frameworks guiding it.
Profile:
Vishnu S. Pendyala, Ph.D. is a faculty member in Applied Data Science and a University Senator with San Jose State University, current chair of the Santa Clara Valley Chapters of IEEE Computer and Computational Intelligence Societies, Area 4 Coordinator for Region 6, and a Distinguished Contributor of the IEEE Computer Society. He also taught at Kyungpook National University (ranked #698 in Best Global Universities), South Korea, as a visiting scholar. As a past ACM Distinguished Speaker, researcher, and industry expert, he gave nearly 100 talks and tutorial sessions in various forums such as faculty development programs, the 12th IEEE GHTC, IEEE ANTS, 12th IACC, 10th ICMC, IUCEE, 12th ACM IKDD CODS and 30th COMAD to audiences at venues such as Stanford University, Google, University of Wisconsin (Madison), University of Bolton, University of Hawaii, Computer History Museum, Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Lima, Peru, IIIT Hyderabad, KREA, IIT Jodhpur, University of Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIIT Bhubaneswar. Some of these talks are available on YouTube and IEEE.tv.
Dr. Pendyala is a senior member of the IEEE and ACM. He has over two decades of experience in the software industry in the Silicon Valley, USA. His book, “Veracity of Big Data,” is available in several libraries, including those of MIT, Stanford, CMU, the US Congress and internationally. Two other books on machine learning and software development that he edited are also well-received and have been included in the US Library of Congress and other reputed libraries. Dr. Pendyala taught a one-week course sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, under the GIAN program in 2017 to Computer Science faculty from all over the country and delivered the keynote in a similar program sponsored by AICTE, Government of India, in 2022. Dr. Pendyala served on the US government's National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal review panel in 2023. He received the Ramanujan Memorial Gold Medal and a shield for his college at the State Math Olympiad. He also played an active role in the Computer Society of India and was the Program Secretary for its annual national convention.