Ricardo Valerdi speaks at symposium regarding advances in AI
(From left) Ricardo Valerdi, Mike Novak, Zoë Nengite, Mark Midland, Dr. Dionne Benson, and Kyle McDoniel contribute to an artificial intelligence panel at the 2024 Global Symposium on Racing. (Credit: Race Track Industry Program/David Sanders)
Race Track Industry Program/David Sanders
Ricardo Valerdi, department head and professor of SIE, spoke at the 2024 Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson on Dec. 10 to discuss advancements in artificial intelligence technology. Valerdi joined a panel with Mike Novak, Zoë Nengite, Mark Midland, Dr. Dionne Benson and Kyle McDoniel.
Following introductory remarks from Tommy Lloyd, coach of the University of Arizona men's basketball team; Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Park; and Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, six speakers with contrasting roles in the industry, including Valerdi, described the role of AI during a well-attended session titled "Artificial Intelligence: Transformative Applications for Advancing Horse Racing."
According to Byron King, news editor at BloodHorse Magazine, Valerdi told the audience how relatable AI has become. Plugging relatively dry promotional materials about the Symposium into Google NotebookLM, he played portions of a 20-minute AI-generated podcast in which a computerized male host and a computerized female host discussed panels at the Symposium, even excitedly discussing the moisture content of dirt from a track maintenance panel.