Vera Zakem

Vera Zakem, California's State Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, previously led global efforts at USAID to align technology with democratic values. In this discussion, she shares insights on balancing innovation and public accountability, tackling the challenges of integrating AI and other emerging technologies in governance. Zakem emphasizes the need for collaboration among public, academia, and industry to foster responsible tech development while also addressing talent recruitment and upskilling in California's competitive tech landscape.