Columbian’s economic forecast heats up with complex math and AI.





TLDR:

Key Points:

  • David Adkins, senior engineering manager at Meta AI, discussed AI at The Columbian’s annual Economic Forecast Breakfast.
  • AI is seen as complicated math that can benefit businesses in Clark County.

It’s just complicated math: Columbian’s economic forecast event zooms in on AI

At The Columbian’s annual Economic Forecast Breakfast, David Adkins, a senior engineering manager at Meta AI, emphasized that AI is simply math and discussed its benefits for businesses in Clark County. Around 300 community members attended the event at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

Adkins addressed fears of sentient AI, highlighting that AI technology is based on predictions and people’s predictability. He also discussed software like OpenAI’s ChatGPT that can enhance work efficiency.

Other speakers at the event, Krystal Daibes Higgins and Dave Barcos, shared insights on implementing AI into their businesses and the potential for growth and efficiency. Scott Bailey presented an economic forecast, pointing to trends in household income growth, work-from-home shifts, and job sector growth in Clark County.

Bailey also touched on factors affecting inflation, such as corporate profits, supply chain issues, and stimulus funds. Despite uncertainties around interest rate cuts, there are predictions of movement in July by economist Claudia Sahm.