Leaders and Innovators: Ya-Qin Zhang

Leaders and Innovators: Ya-Qin Zhang P’20BUS, P’22

On Dec. 4, Dean Mary C. Boyce spoke with Ya-Qin Zhang P’20BUS, P’22, a pioneer in artificial intelligence and digital video and former president of Baidu, as part of Columbia Engineering’s new Silberstein Family Seminar series: Leaders and Innovators.

A much-published scientist and technologist, Zhang is widely acknowledged as having ushered in the use of machine learning as a revolutionary tool for complex decision making. In this conversation, Zhang shared lessons from his storied career, including his guiding principles for innovative leadership, keys to building the right team, and pathways for creating ethical, human-centered technology.

The Silberstein Family Seminars: Leaders and Innovators has been made possible by the generosity of Board of Visitor member Alan Silberstein SEAS’69 and his wife Carol ‘69BC.