Session Abstract:
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer vision have paved the way for powerful, real-time decision-making capabilities at the edge of networks, reducing reliance on centralized cloud infrastructures. This panel will explore the integration of AI and object vision technologies in edge computing environments to enable efficient, low-latency, and privacy-preserving processing of visual data. By leveraging edge devices equipped with specialized AI hardware, such as GPUs and TPUs, object detection, classification, and tracking can be performed closer to the data source, supporting applications ranging from smart surveillance and autonomous vehicles to industrial automation and healthcare imaging. We will discuss key challenges including model optimization for constrained hardware, edge-cloud coordination, and maintaining accuracy under dynamic conditions. Our discussion will investigate how deploying AI-driven object vision at the edge not only enhances responsiveness and bandwidth efficiency but also supports scalable, intelligent systems across diverse domains.
Speakers:
Zohreh Asgharzadeh Talebi leads a team of researchers and developers at SAS R&D, where she focuses on developing tools for Internet of Things applications. She is passionate about designing and implementing accurate, scalable methods to analyze high-frequency, high-dimensional IoT data. Her work also centers on making statistical and machine learning techniques more accessible and effective for real-time data analysis. Zohreh holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Pooja Dewan is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience leading digital transformation, data strategy, and AI innovation. She currently serves as Managing Member at Maverick Insights and Advisory Board Member for both DataColors.AI and the Texas A&M Data Science Program. Formerly the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Otis Elevators and Chief Data Scientist at BNSF Railway, she led enterprise-scale cloud transformations and built AI/ML capabilities that have delivered over $1B in business value. Recognized as a Top 100 Data & Analytics Leader (2022, 2023), Dr. Dewan has earned multiple industry awards, held leadership roles with INFORMS, and actively advises startups and academic institutions—consistently bridging business strategy with emerging technology to drive meaningful impact.
Cole Wangsness, Principal Business & Ecosystem Development Manager – Industrial, Red Hat Global GTM Specialist for Device Platform & Edge AI focused on developing edge strategies for RH portfolio. Consulting with clients, partners, and sales teams on edge transformation across the world. -Create Strategies for Edge Go To Market for Red Hat Product Portfolio, -Key Areas of Focus: Edge Devices, Edge AI, Defense Solutions
Joanna S. Cavalier, MD, is an internist and Medical Instructor who works as a hospitalist at Duke University Hospital. She also serves as the Associate Medical Director of the Digital Strategy Office for Duke Health, where she focuses on enhancing the patient-facing digital experience. Her areas of focus include virtual care, remote patient monitoring, virtual nursing, the MyChart app, patient-entered questionnaires, and patient-reported outcomes. Her research is focused on the formal evaluation of digital programs to assess their efficacy and outcomes.
Sanjeev Heda is a Principal Industry Consultant at SAS, working directly with customers to apply IoT and advanced analytics across a range of industrial environments to drive value. With both a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, he helps organizations unlock value from connected devices to improve asset utilization, service delivery, equipment reliability, and product quality. Prior to SAS, Sanjeev spent over 12 years at GE Power, where he led the development and implementation of enterprise analytics strategies and technology initiatives.
