Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools held its third annual AI Data Privacy Summit on May 13 at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. Titled “From Learning to Leading with Artificial Intelligence,” the event brought together members of the district – from board members and students to central office leadership and principals of the year – with community partners and members of the Superintendent’s AI Advisory Council.

“This cross-section reflects how the decisions CMS makes about data privacy and our AI implementation touches every one of the roles represented today, as well as others who aren’t in the room,” said Dr. Candace Salmon-Hosey, CMS chief technology officer. “Getting these decisions right requires all of us working together toward a shared vision.”

The keynote speaker was Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, a professor of the practice and director of cyber programs within the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He also served as the assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy and the principal cyber adviser to the secretary of defense, setting departmentwide policy on cyber operations, cyber policy and cybersecurity.

Sulmeyer spoke about how AI is changing cybersecurity – where things stand nationally, what to pay attention to and how to lead through uncertainty. He later facilitated tabletop exercises designed to challenge participants’ thinking around cybersecurity decision-making.