AI in Chicago, a Podcast

About AI in Chicago, a Podcast

Welcome to AI in Chicago, the podcast where cutting-edge artificial intelligence meets the heart of the Midwest. From interviews with AI investors, researchers at top universities, and founders at rising startups to city officials leveraging machine learning to improve public services, AI in Chicago brings you stories, insights, and conversations that bridge the global and the hyperlocal. This show dives deep into the evolving world of AI through the lens of Chicago’s rich cultural, entrepreneurial, and academic landscape.

Publisher

Khullani M. Abdullahi, Founder Techne AI

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Apr 2025

Latest episode

18 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Chicago’s Next Mayor? George Cardenas on Algorithms, Assessments, and Who Owns AI in City Hall

   What does a mayor actually do about artificial intelligence? George A. Cardenas is Chairman and Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review and a candidate for mayor of Chicago. He came to Chicago from Durango as a boy, went to Lane Tech, joined the Navy to pay for school, and audited Fortune 500books before spending nearly twenty years as alderman of the 12th Ward. He now runs the office that hears roughly a quarter of a million property tax appeals a year. In this conversation he becomes the first candidate in the 2027 field to commit to a structure: a chief of AI and a digital transformation officer inside his first hundred days, working with the CIO, corporation counsel, the inspectorgeneral and procurement, and accountable to the mayor. "Within my first hundred days, I would designate a chief of AI and a digital transformation officer, that would be working with the current CIO and corporation counsel and the inspector general and procurement and operating departments, and ultimately to be accountable to the mayor. To me. For thatimplementation."

2. 

   24 Aug 2026

   Who Decides Which AI Risks Matter? Nick Diakopoulos on Media, Politics, and AI Governance

   Which AI risks end up in legislation, and where does that ranking come from? Nick Diakopoulos has spent a decade on that question. He is a professor of communication studies and, by courtesy, computer science at Northwestern University, where he directs the Computational Journalism Lab. He put the phrase "algorithmic accountability reporting" into circulation in a 2013 essay for The Atlantic and a 2014 Tow Center report, and his book Automating the News: How Algorithms Are Rewriting the Media (Harvard University Press, 2019) won the Tankard Book Award. In this conversation he walks through two studies. The first analyzed 42,853 news articles across 27 countries to measure which AI harms actually get covered: societal risk dominates at roughly half of all coverage, legal and rights harms take about a third, and existential risk finishes fifth at 7%. The second, presented at AAAI/ACM's AI, Ethics, and Society conference in 2025, narrows to US outlets and finds that risk coverage sorts by political lean — right-leaning outlets emphasizing malicious use, left-leaning outlets emphasizing socioeconomic and environmental harm, and both using the word "discrimination" to describe different phenomena. The conclusion is uncomfortable and hard to dismiss: AI risk assessment inherits the politics of the information reaching the people who write the rules.

3. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Notice as Data Infrastructure: Inside Illinois's 2026 AI Hiring Law

   When Illinois decided to regulate AI in hiring, it skipped the standard playbook. It passed no standalone AI statute and mandated no bias audit. Instead, it amended the sixty-year-old Illinois Human Rights Act, making algorithmic discrimination a civil rights matter and enforced by the same agency that handles housing, credit, and employment complaints. House Bill 3773 took effect January 1, 2026. Jason Rosensweig is one of the few people in the country writing the rules that will govern it. As Senior Policy Advisor at the Illinois Department of Human Rights, he's drafting the implementing regulations — Subpart J — that will shape how thousands of Illinois employers, and the vendors selling into them, operate. We get into: Why Illinois built the law on a civil rights chassis, and how that decision determines which doctrines apply and what evidence courts will demand How a single-issue bill about zip codes grew into a statewide notice regime Why the compliance mechanism is disclosure rather than an audit — and how the notice doubles as data infrastructure for future enforcement The "influence or facilitate" standard, and why its reach covers far more of the employment lifecycle than most compliance teams have scoped for Why liability sits with employers rather than the developers who build the tools, and how Illinois vendor contracts are about to change in 2026 Jason's blunt response to the claim that AI moves too fast for government to regulate Jason holds a PhD from the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought and also teaches in the Northwestern Prison Education Project.

4. 

   1 Apr 2026

   Chicago's Next Mayor? Susana Mendoza on Fiscal Crisis, AI, and Why City Hall Needs a Builder

   Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza inherited a $16.7 billion bill backlog, a credit rating one notch above junk, and a rainy day fund with $48,000. Nine years later: ten credit upgrades, a $2.4 billion rainy day fund, and a payment cycle cut from 210 days to 13. Now, as she eyes a 2027 Chicago mayoral bid, she sits down with AI in Chicago to talk about what fiscal crisis management teaches us about the AI transition — why labor displacement could trigger the next revenue crisis, why transparency infrastructure is a prerequisite for AI in government, and why Chicago's next mayor needs to be a builder, not a bystander.

5. 

   9 Mar 2026

   Responsible AI Scaling With Illinois State CIO and Secretary of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology Brandon Ragle

   In this episode of AI in Chicago, I sit down with Brandon Ragle, Illinois State Chief Information Officer and Secretary of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, to talk about what it really takes to scale AI responsibly in a large public-sector organization. Brandon leads more than 1,800 technologists, manages a technology portfolio of over 11 billion dollars, and supports 3636 executive branch agencies serving 1313 million Illinois residents. Our conversation explores why strong foundations matter more than speed when adopting AI — from identity and access management to data governance, cybersecurity, workforce readiness, and long-term change management. We also discuss Illinois’ governance-first AI strategy, the state’s rollout of secure productivity tools, and why Brandon believes AI should enhance people’s work, not replace them. If you’re a leader thinking about AI adoption in government, healthcare, or any complex organization, this episode offers a practical blueprint for doing it right.

6. 

   19 Feb 2026

   Building a Quantum Workforce in Illinois: Why Business Leaders Should Pay Attention Now

   In this episode we talk to Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. Most business leaders have quantum computing filed away in the "maybe in 10–15 years" folder. After sitting down with Harley Johnson, the CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP),  for the latest episode of the AI in Chicago Podcast, I'm convinced that timeline needs to be moved up. Significantly. Timed to the federal CHIPS and Science Act, a group of state and institutional leaders developed a deliberate strategy: take the basic science excellence Illinois had been building for a decade and translate it into economic development. The result is IQMP — a state-backed technology park being built on a former steel mill site on Chicago's South Side, designed to take quantum technology from lab breakthroughs to real-world scale.

7. 

   4 Feb 2026

   The Information War: How Think Tanks Fractured American Democracy (with Prof. E.J. Fagan)

   Why do Republicans and Democrats live in different factual universes? The answer traces back to 1973 and three conservative staffers who transformed how America makes policy. Professor E.J. Fagan, author of "The Thinkers," explains how partisan think tanks replaced neutral expertise with competing knowledge regimes—and why smart, educated people are actually easier to fool than everyone else. In this conversation, we explore: Why the Heritage Foundation was founded and how it changed American politics How the 2009 stimulus bill demonstrates the cost of ideological capture Why it's easier to fool intelligent, motivated people than those who are less informed The difference between think tanks in the US versus other democracies Why Project 2025 may be less influential than people think Organizations like the Niskanen Center and R Street Institute that are getting it right Professor Fagan argues the solution isn't neutral centrism;' it's politically engaged organizations with epistemic integrity. As we face decisions about AI deployment, climate adaptation, and economic transformation, we need information infrastructure that serves democracy. Key insight: "Don't try to take the politics out of information, but try to get it right." Guest: Professor E.J. Fagan, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of "The Thinkers: The Rise of Partisan Think Tanks and the Polarization of American Politics" (Oxford University Press)

8. 

   29 Jan 2026

   Downtown Isn't Dying; It's Evolving | Michael Edwards, CEO of the Chicago Loop Alliance

   Michael Edwards has spent 35 years leading downtown organizations across America. In his final months as CEO of the Chicago Loop Alliance, he joins the podcast to discuss downtown narratives in the age of AI with Khullani Abdullahi. He challenges the dominant narrative about urban decline. The data tells a different story: 1.2 million people visited the Loop for arts and culture in Q4 2025, spending $512 million. Weekend foot traffic now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. We discuss the shift from office occupancy as the defining metric, why Chicago's arts patrons visit five times more often than the national average, and how 145,000 Loop residents are reshaping the economic calculus of downtown living.

9. 

   19 Jan 2026

   From Steel City to the Chicago Urban League: In Conversation With Karen Freeman-Wilson

   In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, labor markets, and communities at an unprecedented pace, the question of who benefits—and who gets left behind—has never been more urgent. At the forefront of this challenge stands Karen Freeman-Wilson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAACiGUgoButKlt2LtASimscWTeGcpKOEdVeE?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACiGUgoButKlt2LtASimscWTeGcpKOEdVeE), President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, who brings a unique combination of legal expertise, executive experience, and deep community roots to the mission of ensuring AI becomes a force for equity rather than exclusion.

10. 

    9 Jan 2026

    People Don’t Resist Technology — They Resist Ambiguity | NielsenIQ's Elena Vekilov on Enterprise AI & Privacy

    On the latest episode of the AI in Chicago Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Elena Vekilov, Chief Privacy Officer and Global General Counsel for Data Security, Product, and AI at NielsenIQ. With responsibility for privacy governance across more than 90 markets, Elena sits at an intersection few executives occupy: where data protection, product innovation, and AI governance collide at a global scale. Our conversation crystallized an insight that every leader racing to implement AI should absorb: People don't resist technology. They resist ambiguity. Elena reserves particular passion for redefining legal's role in AI adoption. "If your legal team is known as the Department of No, you're doing something wrong," she states bluntly. The alternative is embedding legal into the product development process from the start – not as a final rubber stamp but as a navigation tool. "Think of legal not as a roadblock, but as a GPS: helping the organization reach its goals without unexpected detours or collisions."

11. 

    29 Sept 2025

    Illinois's AI Mental Health Law with State Representative Bob Morgan, Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip' within the IL House Chamber

    Illinois just made history. In August 2025, Governor Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, and the first law in the nation (possibly the world) to regulate AI in mental healthcare. In this episode, we sit down with State Representative Bob Morgan, Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip' within the IL House Chamber, the architect of the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act to understand how Illinois moved from concept to law in just nine months, what the legislation actually does (and doesn't do), and why this matters far beyond state borders. Rep. Morgan brings a unique perspective as both a healthcare attorney with decades of experience and a state legislator navigating the complex intersection of innovation, safety, and regulation. From his work implementing the Affordable Care Act to managing Illinois's Ebola response, he's seen firsthand how technology and healthcare policy collide. In this conversation, you'll learn: What prompted the urgent need for AI mental health regulation How the law protects patients without stifling healthcare innovation Why licensed professionals can still use AI to augment their practice The political dynamics of passing first-in-the-nation tech legislation What other states are learning from Illinois's model Where AI regulation is headed next Whether you're a healthcare provider, tech builder, policy professional, or simply concerned about AI's role in mental health, this conversation offers rare insight into how thoughtful regulation is actually developed. Guest: Rep. Bob Morgan, Illinois State Representative (58th District), Partner at Benishlaw, former General Counsel for Illinois Department of Public Health Host: Khullani Abdullahi, Founder of Techne AI Listen now to understand the policy framework that may shape AI healthcare regulation across America.

12. 

    25 Sept 2025

    Breaking Through Healthcare's Innovation Desert: How Prenosis Built the First FDA-Authorized AI Tool for Sepsis Diagnosis

    Join AI in Chicago host Khullani Abdullahi for this eye-opening conversation with Bobby Reddy Jr., CEO and co-founder of Prenosis, as he shares the remarkable 10-year journey of developing the first FDA-authorized AI tool for sepsis diagnosis. In this episode, Bobby reveals why acute care has remained an "innovation desert" for 30 years, the critical shift from product-first to problem-first thinking, and how his team built AI that actually demands better data rather than working around missing information. We dive deep into the unique challenges of healthcare AI, including perverse financial incentives, biological complexity, and the importance of developing transparent systems that clinicians can trust. Bobby also shares his vision for revolutionizing clinical trials in acute care and why Chicago's grounded culture provides the perfect environment for tackling healthcare's most intractable problems. Key Topics: Why acute care innovation has stagnated despite representing 10x oncology spending The power of problem-first vs. product-first entrepreneurship Building AI systems that refuse to operate with incomplete data The 5-year path to FDA authorization and why it matters Transforming clinical trials through precision medicine approaches Chicago's emerging role as a healthcare AI hub Whether you're a healthcare professional, AI developer, or entrepreneur, this episode offers invaluable insights into solving complex problems that truly matter.

13. 

    9 Sept 2025

    Effective and Responsible Use @ Scale Aligned to Firm Strategy, Director of AI Richard Robbins at Reed Smith

    AI in Chicago: Transforming Legal Practice with Richard Robbins of Reed Smith Join host Khullani Abdullahi as she sits down with Richard Robbins, Director of Applied AI at Reed Smith, for an illuminating conversation about how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal profession at unprecedented speed. With over 40 years at the intersection of law and technology, Richard brings a unique perspective on why this AI moment feels different from previous tech waves. From his academic background at MIT, theUniversity of Chicago, and Berkeley to his experience as partner, general counsel, and now technology strategist, Richard has witnessed the legal industry's evolution firsthand. In this episode, discover: Why law firms have compressed a decade of change into mere months The four pillars of successful AI implementation: effective use, responsible governance, scale, and strategic alignment How senior lawyers, not junior associates, are getting the most value from AI tools The shift from measuring clicks to measuring client outcomes Why the "trough of disillusionment" is coming and how firms can prepare Strategies for preserving institutional wisdom before it retires with senior partners Richard shares candid insights on moving beyond efficiency gains to true transformation, the governance imperative that separates leaders from followers, and why generative AI demands active experimentation rather than passive observation. Whether you're a legal professional, tech enthusiast, or business leader navigating AI adoption, this conversation offers practical frameworks for turning AI enthusiasm into sustained competitive advantage. AI in Chicago explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries across the Midwest, featuring conversations with innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders driving change in the heartland.

14. 

    22 Aug 2025

    AI in Financial Services: Governance, Risk, and the Human Element with Gianne James

    In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi sits down with Gianne James, Senior Vice President at First Insurance Funding, for a deep dive into the complex world of AI governance in financial services. As AI technologies rapidly transform the industry, financial institutions face a critical challenge: how do you harness innovation while maintaining rigorous compliance and risk management standards? Gianne brings real-world insights into this balancing act, sharing why "AI is not solely a tech function" and how financial services professionals must become active participants in their organizations' AI strategies. Key Topics Discussed: Why AI governance can't be left to IT departments alone The upskilling imperative for financial services professionals Managing AI-specific risks and regulatory compliance challenges Building cross-functional collaboration for successful AI implementation Ethical considerations and liability management in AI development Preparing for the evolving regulatory landscape Whether you're a financial services professional looking to enhance your AI literacy, a risk manager navigating new challenges, or a business leader developing AI strategy, this conversation offers practical insights for thriving in the AI-driven future of finance.

15. 

    13 Aug 2025

    An Architect of Excellence: Building in Enterprise AI with Oracle's Cait Moran

    In this episode of the AI in Chicago podcast, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Cait Moran, Senior Director at Oracle's AI Office Center of Excellence. They discuss Cait's journey in AI, the evolution of Oracle's AI initiatives, and the establishment of a Center of Excellence to drive enterprise-wide AI strategies. Cait shares insights on managing workloads, fostering collaboration, and the importance of continuous learning in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The conversation also touches on future predictions for AI and the potential it holds for businesses and society.

16. 

    20 Jun 2025

    From Hardware to Intelligence: Charting the Course for AI in Medical Device

    In this episode of "AI in Chicago," host Khullani Abdullahi sits down with Dr. Heather McCombs-Chait, a clinician turned enterprise AI leader. Dr. McCombs-Chait shares her unique career journey from managing her own successful private medical practice to leading strategic AI initiatives at major healthcare and medical device corporations like Philips and GE Healthcare. Tune in to hear Dr. McCombs-Chait discuss: The pivotal leadership qualities necessary to navigate technological disruption and foster growth within teams. Her firsthand experience building new data platforms and AI ecosystems from the ground up in large enterprise settings. The non-negotiables she looks for when evaluating and building long-term strategic partnerships with AI vendors, moving beyond the technology to the human, relational elements. How medical device companies are finally having their "precision medicine moment" thanks to AI, enabling earlier and more nuanced diagnoses. Her perspective on Chicago's role as a growing hub for healthcare innovation and what it will take for the city to continue to flourish. This conversation offers a masterclass for anyone interested in the practical application of AI in healthcare, the art of human-centered leadership, and the future of digital transformation in medicine.

17. 

    6 Jun 2025

    Enterprise AI Initiatives with Principal Generative AI Leader, Dr. William Benjamin

    In this episode of AI in Chicago, host Khullani Abdullahi sits down with Dr. William Benjamin, a Principal Generative AI/ML Expert at a Fortune 100 insurance company, for a deep dive into the strategic application of artificial intelligence in the enterprise. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Benjamin shares his journey from mechanical engineering to the forefront of the AI revolution and discusses how technologies like large language models create tangible business value. Join us to explore: The Leader's Path to AI: Why continuous, hands-on learning is non-negotiable for today's executives. Human-Centered Innovation: How to build AI that empowers your workforce and enhances customer experience, not just replaces processes. Strategy and Governance: Best practices for integrating governance and risk management from the start of any AI initiative. Chicago's AI Future: A look at the city's growing potential as a major hub for AI talent and innovation. From the importance of technical fluency in the C-suite to balancing internal efficiencies with external product development, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders, technologists, and anyone curious about the future of AI in business. As Dr. Benjamin puts it, "We are at the cusp of this technology," and the potential for human flourishing is immense.

18. 

    16 May 2025

    Unlocking AI Potential in Organizations - Sergio Gutierrez-Montero

    In this episode of AI in Chicago, host Khullani Abdullahi interviews Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero, the Director of AI for HR at AbbVie. They discuss Sergio's background in consulting, the evolution of AI in business, and the challenges organizations face in implementing AI strategies. Key themes include the importance of focusing on specific business problems, the need for robust data infrastructure, and the significance of driving employee adoption of AI tools. Sergio emphasizes the necessity of hands-on experience with AI and the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The conversation concludes with insights on the future of work in the age of AI and the skills needed for success in AI strategy roles. Takeaways Sergio Gutiérrez-Montero is the Director of AI for HR at AbbVie. AI should be applied to specific business problems, not just for the sake of using AI. Infrastructure challenges are significant barriers to AI implementation. Employee adoption is crucial for the success of AI initiatives. Organizations should focus on understanding the problems they need to solve with AI. A top-down and bottom-up approach is necessary for effective AI strategy development. Identifying high-value use cases requires thorough research and understanding of business needs. Driving engagement and adoption of AI tools is essential for their success. Executives need to have a basic understanding of AI to make informed decisions. The landscape of AI is rapidly changing, requiring organizations to be adaptable.

19. 

    15 Apr 2025

    Integrating AI into Healthcare Orgs

    Tim Turner, MBA, VP of Insights and Analytics at Thresholds, joins us this week to discuss how healthcare leaders think about responsible AI, from patient access to clinical care.

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