Last week, Software.org: the BSA Foundation led a bicameral and bipartisan trip of senior congressional staff to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Participants explored wide-ranging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) with industry leaders from Adobe, Autodesk, Atlassian, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce, and SAP.

During the visit, each company demonstrated its unique implementation of AI in real-world scenarios, underscoring the expansive potential and evolving nature of AI technology. Key presentations included:

• Adobe’s AI-powered creative tools and the Content Authenticity Initiative highlighting AI ethics and sustainability;
• Autodesk’s transformation of infrastructure, manufacturing, and media through AI and machine learning;
• Atlassian’s AI-driven project management enhancements boosting team collaboration and productivity;
• IBM’s AI-driven data analytics and Principles for Trust and Transparency in AI, emphasizing precise regulation;
• Microsoft’s AI integration in cloud services via O365 and Azure IoT, featuring Microsoft Flight Simulator technology;
• Salesforce’s enterprise AI solutions revolutionizing customer relationship management; and,
• SAP’s intelligent enterprise solutions transforming business operations and unlocking data’s full potential.

The delegation also participated in special dinner programs featuring discussions led by experts from academia, business, and civil society. These sessions offered an intimate setting for in-depth conversations about the workforce needs of an AI future and the intersectionality of AI and cybersecurity, giving congressional staffers a greater understanding of the implications of AI adoption.

This trip highlighted the critical role of AI and software enabling digital transformation and the importance of informed policymaking to foster innovation while ensuring ethical standards and public trust. By facilitating these interactions, Software.org: the BSA Foundation continues to bridge the gap between technology leaders and policymakers, paving the way for a collaborative approach to AI development and governance.

For more information about Software.org: the BSA Foundation, please contact Gideon at gideon@software.org.