How Can AI Empower Me—Today and in the Future?
How Can AI Empower Me—Today and in the Future?
AI is rapidly changing how we work, learn, create, invest, and build businesses. But what does AI actually mean for each of us?
How can we use AI today, and how should we prepare for the opportunities ahead?
Join us for an afternoon of keynote presentations, an engaging fireside conversation, and meaningful networking with entrepreneurs, technology leaders, product innovators, educators, and investors.
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 1:00–3:30 PM
📍 Ceremonial Hall, California Science and Technology University
🎟️ Registration: [Registration Link]
Event Agenda
1:00–1:20 PM — Reception & Networking
Meet fellow entrepreneurs, professionals, educators, investors, and members of the AI community.
1:20–1:40 PM — Opening Keynote
Dr. Yingchao “YZ” Zhang
Enterprise AI and the New Era of Intelligent Work
How agentic AI and enterprise AI platforms are transforming business workflows, organizational efficiency, security, and data privacy.
1:40–2:20 PM — Fireside Conversation
Dr. John Jiang in Conversation with Gordon Bai
How Can AI Empower Individuals and Organizations?
A conversation exploring the evolution from cloud, big data, and digital transformation to today’s AI revolution—and what individuals, businesses, and educators can do to prepare for the future.
2:20–2:40 PM — Keynote
Madhuri Bhavana
Designing Human-Centered AI Experiences
How AI can reshape retail, products, and service experiences while connecting emerging technologies with real user needs and measurable business outcomes.
2:40–3:00 PM — Featured Speech
Aaron Zhang
AI, Bitcoin, and the Future of Finance
An exploration of how artificial intelligence, Bitcoin, open-source technology, and decentralized systems may reshape investment, financial innovation, and the global economy.
3:00–3:30 PM — Networking
Continue the conversation and connect with speakers, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and members of the AI community.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Yingchao “YZ” Zhang
Co-founder & Chief AI Officer, opAIda.ai
Dr. YZ Zhang is a serial entrepreneur, AI innovator, and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience in enterprise AI, cybersecurity, software engineering, and systems architecture. He leads AI strategy and technology innovation at opAIda.ai and holds a Ph.D. in High Energy Nuclear Physics from Stony Brook University.
Dr. John Jiang
Enterprise Architect and Digital Transformation Leader
Dr. John Jiang has more than 35 years of experience in enterprise architecture, cloud, big data, AI, and digital transformation. He has held senior technology roles at Lockheed Martin, IBM, Dell, Hitachi America R&D, and BearingPoint. He holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Particle Physics from Stony Brook University and conducted postdoctoral research at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford.
Madhuri Bhavana
Senior Product Designer, Walmart
Madhuri Bhavana works at the intersection of experience strategy, artificial intelligence, and the future of retail. She previously designed consumer and enterprise products at Wish, Google, Nutanix, and Amazon. She holds a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Design from IIT Guwahati.
Aaron Zhang
Bitcoin Engineer, Investor & Educator
Aaron Zhang is the founder of Chain Renaissance Capital, author of Mastering Taproot, partner in the Chaincode Labs Bitcoin Open Source Program, and instructor for AI Finance MB/CSE 599. His work connects Bitcoin engineering, open-source development, investment, education, and artificial intelligence.
Gordon Bai
Founder, uTrack | Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, CSTU MBA Program
Gordon Bai is an entrepreneur, educator, and product innovation leader with experience in new venture creation, global business development, and AI-enabled product development. He is the founder of uTrack and AI Innovation Studio, an experiential learning initiative connecting AI, entrepreneurship, and real-world innovation.
Who Should Attend?
This event is for entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, technologists, educators, students, and anyone interested in understanding how AI can create practical opportunities in work, business, investment, and everyday life.
What can AI enable you to do today—and what role do you want to play in the future?
Join us to explore the possibilities, meet members of the AI community, and begin finding your own answer.
Organized by CSTU Startup Club