Joining Leaders at the Forefront of AI at Fast Company Innovation Festival
Last week, I had the opportunity to represent Moderna at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City, an event that has become a hub for forward-thinking leaders across industries. Many of the Festival’s panel discussions and workshops underscored the urgency with which companies are adapting to technological advancements, particularly in AI.
During this year’s event, I participated in a panel titled The Next Wave of AI Innovation: How AWS, Moderna, and WHOOP are Prepared for It. Sharing insights alongside Colleen Aubrey, SVP of AWS Solutions, and Emily Capodilupo, SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data at WHOOP, provided a unique platform to discuss the transformative role AI is playing in shaping the future of our industries. Moderated by Rachana Bhide of FastCo Works, we explored not only the potential but the intentionality that comes with leveraging AI in and across organizations.
Democratizing AI at Moderna
At Moderna, the question is no longer whether AI will play a central role in our business, but rather how deeply and how strategically we can embed it across the organization. During the panel, I shared our approach to democratizing AI—a deliberate effort to help ensure that this powerful tool is accessible to everyone.
AI is not a standalone project for us; it is woven into how we operate. By empowering our teams with AI-driven insights and automating routine processes, we are enabling our teams to focus on higher-value tasks. This effort is backed by robust support from leadership, targeted educational initiatives, and an ongoing integration of AI into our core business functions.
Key Takeaways from the Panel
As the panel progressed, several key themes emerged that reflected both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI at scale:
Practical AI Applications:
Colleen Aubrey from AWS highlighted the importance of focusing on AI use cases that are relevant to business outcomes. This pragmatic approach ensures AI delivers real value, rather than remaining an abstract concept.
Personalized Insights:
Emily Capodilupo from WHOOP discussed how AI is transforming their products, particularly through their new WHOOP Coach tool. It’s a prime example of how AI can provide personalized, data-driven insights at scale, reshaping industries from healthcare to fitness.
Augmenting Human Potential:
There was unanimous agreement on AI’s role in augmenting—not replacing—the workforce. AI should be a tool that enhances human creativity and problem-solving, allowing employees to shift their focus from routine tasks to more strategic initiatives.
Data as the Foundation:
Perhaps the most critical element of AI is the quality of the data that powers it. Without reliable, high-quality data, even the most advanced AI systems will fall short. This was a point of consensus among all panelists.
Looking Ahead
The discussion at the Fast Company Innovation Festival was a clear reminder that AI is no longer a future ambition—it’s an essential part of how we innovate today. For organizations like Moderna, AI is driving operational efficiencies, unlocking new ways of thinking, and ultimately accelerating the development of medicines that have the potential to change lives.
As we continue this journey, it’s evident that the integration of AI into business processes is not a one-time event but an ongoing evolution. AI, when thoughtfully implemented, has the power to redefine industries, and at Moderna, we are committed to leading that transformation with purpose and precision. This is just the beginning, and we’re focused on what comes next.