Tristan Rhodes
AI Integration and Automation Engineer, Weber State University

With deep roots in the UEN community and over 20 years of experience shaping Weber State University’s network infrastructure, Tristan Rhodes is now WSU's AI Integration and Automation Engineer. Using a hands-on approach to artificial intelligence, Tristan has extensive experience designing, building, and deploying custom AI applications and autonomous agents. Dedicated to growing the local tech ecosystem, he serves as the lead organizer for the Weber State AI Hackathon and has presented on AI at numerous events. Through his work and public speaking, Tristan focuses on empowering individuals and organizations to harness the transformative potential of AI.

Keynote Session
Agent Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI

AI can trigger two very real fears: losing control if we adopt it, or losing relevance if we do not. As AI shifts from a passive assistant to an active agent, leaders and professionals are asking: Will this replace me? Is my organization falling behind? How do we embrace AI without creating security risks? 

In this keynote, attendees will gain a practical understanding of how agentic systems work and the role humans will play in this new world. Instead of viewing AI as something to outrun or resist, they will learn how to work with it strategically so they can stay relevant, increase their impact, and lead the transformation in their organizations.

William L. Miller, Ph.D.
Senior Director for Research Computing and Data, University of Utah

William (Bill) Miller is the Senior Director for Research Computing and Data at the University of Utah, where he holds a leadership appointment at the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute and directs the Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC). He provides strategic direction in RCD to advance discovery and innovation at the University and beyond. Dr. Miller joined the U following a federal career at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy and prior careers in space systems engineering and experimental neuroscience. He holds a B.S.E. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California – Davis.

Keynote Session
Utah’s AI Factory Supercomputer: A State-wide Sovereign Resource for Discovery, Education, and Innovation

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how science and innovation are accomplished and how we train the next generation for success in a competitive AI-enabled economy. I will discuss Utah’s recent investments in world-class infrastructure that aim to accelerate scientific and technical advancements and AI preparedness at all levels across the state.