UT Haslam Convenes Business and Academia to Examine AI, Future of Work

Highlighting candid conversation about AI's rapid evolution and its enterprise impact, the invitation-only AInnovation Summit will feature Ethan Mollick, Andrew McAfee and other global experts.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is assembling experts with knowledge at the intersection of technology, enterprise and workforce development in a conference featuring world-renown AI leaders and practical insights for interpreting and harnessing AI's seismic impact.

The invitation-only, international attendee list for the AInnovation Summit, to be held October 7-8 in Knoxville, draws from companies, government agencies and academic institutions uniquely prepared to address the growing influence of AI in the business world. The event's discussion-driven format will explore the emerging opportunities AI presents for forward-thinking organizations.

Notable experts and panelists for the practice-driven conference include:

• Ethan Mollick¹, innovation expert and AI thought leader; professor of entrepreneurship, The Wharton School
• Andrew McAfee, MIT principal research scientist and inaugural Google tech fellow
• Shameek Konar, research scientist, partner and head of Ara Energy
• Denise Koessler Gosnell, computer scientist and leader of Data Driven Intuition

The summit will also feature other globally recognized experts in the field of AI, yet to be announced.

¹This guest will appear via live stream and will not be present in person.

A Summit for the Times

Stephen L. Mangum, Haslam dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, says the AInnovation Summit comes at a critical time in the business world.

"We're living through one of the most accelerated, consequential periods of change in the history of the workforce, and no organization is unaffected," Mangum says. "To address the scale of these changes, we have developed a truly pioneering conference, bridging expertise in technology and business, with a focus on real dialogue about where business is headed."

Jeff Abbott, summit co-chair, Haslam adjunct lecturer and former CEO of Ivanti, a technology leader in the IT and cybersecurity solutions industry, calls the event an opportunity for leadership.

"The goal is not only to develop a shared understanding of AI, but a shared agenda for its future," Abbott says. "We are assembling a team of leaders who will play an essential role in determining how AI shapes the workforce of tomorrow."

To request information about attending the event, complete the interest form at haslam.utk.edu/ai.

Sponsors of AInnovation have a unique opportunity to position themselves at the forefront of the generative AI conversation. For information about sponsorship, contact [email protected] or 865-974-5061.

About AInnovation

The Haslam AInnovation Summit convenes corporate leaders, academic researchers and industry practitioners for two days of focused collaboration on how generative AI is reshaping business. Through keynote addresses, breakout tracks, working sessions and structured networking, attendees will leave with practical frameworks, new partnerships and a shared agenda for what comes next. This event is designed as the beginning of a long-term working relationship between the Haslam College of Business and its corporate and academic partners.

About the Haslam College of Business

Founded in 1914, Haslam sets the standard in developing future business leaders whose work positively impacts the world. More than 11,000 undergraduate, graduate and executive education students are taught by 290 faculty with dedicated staff members facilitating their needs. Haslam programs consist of seven departments and nine undergraduate majors. Its eight centers, institutes and forums, as well as its myriad graduate and executive education programs, reach across the for profit, not-for-profit and governmental sectors of business, with a heavy emphasis on practical research. UT was founded in 1794 and was designated as Tennessee's land-grant institution in 1879. 

SOURCE University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business