LWV LOS ALAMOS NEWS RELEASE

The Los Alamos League of Women Voters’ community event, Lunch with a Leader will be on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall on Sage from noon-1 p.m.. Their speaker will be Hari Viswanathan who be present a Non-Technical Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Hari was born in Suffern, New York and moved to Los Alamos in 2nd grade in 1977 with my parents VK and Selvi Viswanathan who still live in Los Alamos and graduated from LAHS in 1989.  In 2001, he returned to work at LANL. .He holds advanced degrees in chemical and environmental engineering and is a Laboratory Fellow in Earth and Environmental Sciences Division..  His expertise is in subsurface energy systems and artificial intelligence.He has led large multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional projects in areas such as carbon sequestration and locating undocumented orphan wells. He enjoys travel, tennis and wildlife photography with his wife Gowri and son Aditya.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every aspect of our daily lives, from how we interact with technology to how decisions are made in critical sectors. In his talk, he will explore the profound ways AI is shaping our world, both positively and negatively—enhancing efficiency and creativity while raising important ethical and social challenges. He will also share insights into the practical applications of AI in scientific research, highlighting how it helps analyze complex data, accelerate discoveries, and solve problems previously thought impossible.

Whether it’s revolutionizing healthcare, climate research, or engineering, AI is becoming an indispensable tool in modern science. At the same time, Hari will reflect on the responsibility that comes with its power, addressing issues like bias, transparency, and the need for human oversight. This talk aims to demystify AI and spark a conversation about how we can harness it responsibly for the greater good.