Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

You’re invited: Open Forum for AI (OFAI) talk by Dr. Sayeed Choudhury 

April 21st, 2026

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape research, industry, and everyday life, an important question remains: who is shaping AI—and for whom? A special upcoming talk invites you to be part of that conversation.

On Friday, May 1, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in WALC 2007, Dr. Sayeed Choudhury will present “Open Forum for AI (OFAI),” an engaging session on building a more open and human-centered future for AI. Choudhury is associate dean for digital infrastructure and director of the Open Source Programs Office (OSPO) at Carnegie Mellon Libraries.

Attendees will learn about:

• The growing international network behind OFAI, spanning partners across the U.S., Europe, and Asia
• Current working groups advancing open and ethical AI practices
• Plans for an upcoming workshop focused on developing an open technology stack for AI

Whether you’re a student curious about AI, a researcher exploring new directions, or a practitioner interested in open innovation, this session offers a unique opportunity to engage with forward-thinking ideas and initiatives shaping the future of AI. Don’t miss this chance to hear from a leader in the field and connect with a broader movement toward transparent, inclusive, and responsible AI.

Bio: Dr. Sayeed Choudhury is Associate Dean for Digital Infrastructure and Director of the Open Source Programs Office (OSPO) at Carnegie Mellon Libraries, as well as Executive Director of the Open Forum for AI. He is also an affiliated faculty with the Block Center for Technology and Society and the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. His work focuses on open-source ecosystems, digital infrastructure, and the development of human-centered approaches to data and AI.

Choudhury has held leadership roles in numerous national and international initiatives, including work supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and service on boards and advisory committees such as the Open Source Initiative and the Research Data Alliance. He has also contributed to major national policy and advisory efforts, including appointments and service with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and federal advisory groups focused on data and digital preservation.

Previously, he held senior roles at Johns Hopkins University, where he helped lead digital infrastructure and curation efforts and launched one of the first university OSPOs in the United States. His work has been supported by major funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and he has published widely on digital curation, open systems, and data infrastructure while speaking internationally on open science and technology policy.