At the ASAE Virtual AI Summit on November 14th, from 1:15 to 2:00pm, Heather Harris, PhD, Founder and Principal Data Scientist at Herkimer Consulting, will present Unpacking the "Black Box" of AI - an Intuitive Introduction. Dr Harris’s talk aims to "unpack the black box" of AI, offering an accessible and intuitive introduction to AI technologies with a focus on large language models (LLMs) and AI orchestration. Through practical examples and clear explanations, this session will demystify how these systems work, discuss practical applications and limitations, and explore implications for association management. Attendees will leave with a foundational understanding of AI systems and how they work.

Get ready for an insightful journey into the world of AI! Join Heather Harris, PhD at the Anita B. Org Grace Hopper ’24 Conference for an upcoming panel, “Navigating the AI Landscape: Unraveling Complexities Through Diverse Perspectives.” As the Founder of Herkimer Consulting, Dr. Harris will be giving away one seat to Herkimer’s In-Person Corporate Leaders AI Bootcamp to an attendee (worth $8,725).

In this episode of the ASAE Tech Insider podcast, Heather Harris, PhD, Founder and Principal Data Scientist at Herkimer Consulting, collaborates with Juan Sanchez, CIO at Inteleos, Denali Carpenter, Data Scientist at Inteleos, and moderator Carlos Cardenas, Senior Director of IT at NBCRNA and ASAE Tech Council Chair to discuss the pervasive challenge of missing data and its implications. The conversation centers around innovative strategies for addressing missing data, with a strong emphasis on the importance of data governance and quality in AI and machine learning applications. Dr. Harris introduces the topic by highlighting the impact that missing data can have on organizational analytics and the necessity for robust data handling methods. She and her colleagues describe how Inteleos employs advanced data imputation techniques, focusing on outcome-driven thinking and goal-setting to improve data accuracy and operational efficiency. The panel also underscores the significance of complete, high-quality datasets in training AI models, advocating for more sophisticated imputation methods beyond basic approaches like mean imputation. Additionally, the discussion extends to the application of imputation techniques for unstructured data and its potential to enhance AI development and performance.

In this episode of the AI For All Podcast, Heather Harris, PhD, Founder and Principal Data Scientist at Herkimer Consulting, joins hosts Ryan Chacon and Neil Sahota to explore strategies for businesses to navigate AI adoption more effectively. Dr. Harris underscores the importance of aligning AI initiatives with an organization’s core mission and desired outcomes, advocating for AI to play a supportive rather than central role in business strategies. Key challenges such as data integrity, distinguishing authentic AI solutions from ineffective ones, and obtaining quality data are discussed. Dr. Harris anticipates that AI integration will become more seamless and less visible over the next five to ten years, but she urges businesses to be proactive rather than reactive in adapting to AI's rapid evolution.

In this episode of the ASAE Tech Insider Podcast , Heather Harris, PhD, Founder and Principal Data Scientist at Herkimer Consulting, speaks with Vinnu Deshetty, CEO of EVA | Event Tech Hub, and moderator Carlos Cardenas, Senior Director of IT at NBCRNA and ASAE Tech Council Chair, about harnessing AI in event management. Dr. Harris offers an in-depth analysis of AI’s potential to revolutionize event planning, improving operational efficiency while providing more tailored, personalized experiences for attendees. She underscores the importance of strong data governance, ethical management of privacy concerns, and the critical need for informed consent in an increasingly AI-driven environment. The conversation also delves into how predictive analytics can forecast event metrics, such as attendance and session popularity, while improving logistical efficiency. Dr. Harris and her colleagues further explore AI's broader implications for understanding member preferences, reshaping engagement strategies, and ultimately transforming industry standards in event management.

In this Data Science and Machine Learning Speaker Series, Heather Harris, PhD, Founder and Principal Data Scientist at Herkimer Consulting, offers an in-depth exploration of missing data mechanisms, data screening processes, and an introduction to widely-used imputation methods. Addressing missing data is a critical challenge in model development, particularly in AI, as the way incomplete data is handled can significantly affect model accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making. Dr. Harris emphasizes the practical gap between theoretical approaches and real-world applications, highlighting how an inadequate understanding of missing data can distort results and undermine the integrity of AI models. This primer underscores the importance of robust strategies for managing incomplete data to ensure reliable, data-driven outcomes.