Vention Unplugged: Optimizing for What? When AI Efficiency Runs Into Human Values
Join us on Thursday, April 16th 2026, for an invite-only panel hosted by Vention in Midtown Manhattan, designed for technology executives, founders, product leaders, and decision-makers.
We will explore the tension between AI optimization and ethics: examining when efficiency becomes harmful, what gets lost when we only count what's measurable, and how to encode human values into technical systems. Hear from technologists, ethicists, and business leaders who have faced the difficult tradeoffs between metrics that scale and values that matter.
The Panel:
The panel discussion will be moderated by Paul Lunow, CTO of Digital Solutions at Vention, who will guide an open and lively conversation to surface diverse perspectives from our guests:
Minerva Tantoco, former first CTO of City of New York. Minerva is a leader in AI, finance, and innovation, holding four U.S. patents in intelligent workflow. After City Hall, she co-founded digital commercial bank, Grasshopper Bank, NA, and helped launch the AI Hub at NYU McSilver Institute as Chief AI Officer, and is currently an EY Center for Executive Leadership Advisor in Residence.
Buka Gurgenidze-Steinau leads Centralized Intelligence & Automation for the Enterprise at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, driving the adoption of AI and Automation at scale. She brings a track record of building and deploying advanced AI/ML solutions across healthcare, finance, and technology, with prior roles at BlackRock and Haptik, Reliance Jio.
Frank Roppelt is a cybersecurity and AI governance executive with over 25 years leading enterprise risk programs at Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, BNY Mellon, and Flagstar Bank. As a certified AI governance professional (AAISM), he specializes in building responsible AI frameworks that balance innovation with security, ethics, and regulatory compliance, including alignment to emerging regulations like the EU AI Act. Frank advises boards and executives on AI risk management, third-party AI vendor evaluation, and AI incident response.
Agenda:
6:00 – 7:00 PM - Welcome Reception & Networking
7:00 – 7:45 PM - Panel Discussion
7:45 – 8:00 PM - Audience Q&A
8:00 – 8:30 PM - Post-Panel Networking
Food and drinks provided throughout the evening.
Why attend?
Hear real-world stories of optimization gone right—and wrong
Network with technology leaders facing similar tradeoffs
Join open, honest discussions on what we should and shouldn't optimize for
Learn practical approaches to balancing measurable metrics with human values
About Vention:
Vention is a global leader in software engineering, trusted by enterprises, innovators, and high-growth startups. Headquartered in New York with 20+ offices worldwide, Vention connects technology leaders with 3,000+ world-class engineers who embed alongside in-house teams to accelerate roadmaps and execute product vision. AI-enabled and human-led, Vention's teams bring the efficiency of modern AI tooling with the accountability of seasoned engineers. Every engagement is backed by Vention's Engineering Peace of Mind Promise.