The Real Driver of Innovation Isn’t AI—It’s Inclusion | Noelle Russell | TEDxBoston
"We talk about AI like it’s a magic wand that will transform everything. But what if the most powerful force for innovation isn’t artificial intelligence—it’s inclusive leadership?In this visionary TEDxBoston Talk, Noelle Russell, award-winning technologist and AI ethicist, challenges our assumptions about what drives innovation in the AI era. Drawing from her book and personal journey, she uses a powerful metaphor—a “baby tiger”—to explore how unchecked AI can grow into something dangerous without human values guiding it.Through compelling stories and frontline insights from tech, Noelle reveals how diverse voices, equity-centered design, and inclusive teams aren’t just moral imperatives—they’re strategic requirements. Because when we build AI without everyone in mind, we build systems that harm.She ends with a call to conscience, quoting Hamilton:“History has its eyes on you.”The future is watching. The question is—will we build it together?"AI, Business, Education, Ethics, Innovation, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, Technology, Women, Women in business, Responsible AI, Trustworthy AI "Noelle Russell is a multi-award-winning speaker, author, and AI Executive who specializes in transforming businesses through strategic AI adoption. She is a revenue growth + cost optimization expert, 5x Microsoft Trustworthy AI MVP, and named the #1 Agentic AI Leader in 2025. She has led teams at NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS and Amazon Alexa, and is a consistent champion for Data and AI literacy and is the founder of the ""I ❤️ AI"" Community teaching responsible AI for everyone.She is the founder of the AI Leadership Institute and empowers business owners to grow and scale with AI. In the last year, she has been named an awardee of the AI and Cyber Leadership Award from DCALive, the #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Generative AI by Thinkers360.""Noelle Russell is a multi-award-winning speaker, author, and AI Executive who specializes in transforming businesses through strategic AI adoption. She is a revenue growth + cost optimization expert, 5x Microsoft Trustworthy AI MVP, and named the #1 Agentic AI Leader in 2025. She has led teams at NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS and Amazon Alexa, and is a consistent champion for Data and AI literacy and is the founder of the ""I ❤️ AI"" Community teaching responsible AI for everyone.She is the founder of the AI Leadership Institute and empowers business owners to grow and scale with AI. In the last year, she has been named an awardee of the AI and Cyber Leadership Award from DCALive, the #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Generative AI by Thinkers360." This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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