Palisades Institute Forum: “AI: From Tool to Teammate”
On March 23, 2026, the Palisades Institute Forum brought together business leaders, students, and faculty at the Granito Center for an in-depth look at where AI is headed — and what organizations need to do now to keep pace.
The forum featured a keynote from national AI strategist Alex Ruiz, a live demonstration of agentic AI built by a DUNY student, and a moderated panel on leadership, ethics, and what comes next.
The session cut through the hype and focused on what works — especially for small businesses and nonprofits. Topics covered included:
- • AI as a growth engine for your organization
- • AI as an operational assistant and decision-maker
- • AI as a brand amplifier, and what thoughtful adoption looks like
- • The ethical questions every leader needs to be asking
Alex walked attendees through how businesses evolve from basic automation to full AI integration — and what separates companies that experiment from the ones that truly transform.
▼ Full Bio
Alex Ruiz is a strategic leader and business builder who helps organizations move AI from a “trending topic” to a practical tool for growth. As the founder of ART X MACHINA, he works with both established companies and AI startups to turn new technologies into clear business strategies and everyday ways of working.
With over 20 years of experience in digital transformation, Alex has led multi-million-dollar portfolios for agencies and consultancies, overseeing strategic work for iconic brands such as Nestlé, American Express, and Anheuser-Busch InBev. He is known for his ability to simplify complex changes — whether helping a Fortune 500 company save $15 million through more efficient partnerships or building his own startup agency from the ground up and scaling it to $17 million in annual revenue.
Today, Alex focuses on “AI-readiness” — identifying where AI can solve problems, redesigning workflows to support human teams, and creating the playbooks needed to launch new products. He currently serves as a strategic advisor for AI platforms like MeetSynthia™, helping shape their product stories and launch plans.
A graduate of Cornell University, Alex served on the Cornell Dyson School Alumni Advisory Board and regularly returns to the classroom as a guest speaker to help students and business leaders navigate the future of work.
Tommaso showcased his agentic AI-driven business platform, demonstrating live what it looks like when AI becomes an operational teammate inside a real business.
A moderated conversation on where agentic AI is heading, what businesses should avoid, and how our values need to keep pace with the technology.
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