Some See Artificial Intelligence as a Threat, Pasadena Entrepreneur Excited About How AI Can Make the World a Better Place – Pasadena Now

“I want to make the world a better place and this is how I do it. I find creative ways to implement technology, said Armando Rodriguez, founder of Pasadena-based nonprofit Latino Renaissance and chatbot company Compass Bot.

This week, at Innovate Pasadena’s Friday Coffee Meetup, titled “A Society of Ideas: Where Innovation Meets the Power of AI,” Rodriguez will preach about using artificial intelligence to be non-evil.

The free event on July 7 from 8:30-10 p.m. will be held at FoundrSpace at 87 N. Raymond Ave.

Rodriguez’s AI journey began back in 2012 with a company called SmartAction, which used AI to create interactive voice response (IVR) conversations.

His professional experience further developed and in 2015 he started working on chatbots for a tourist company.

“I’m more and more fascinated by the concept of having artificial intelligence in our everyday lives,” Rodriguez said. “And in 2018, I founded Compassion Bot in the last few years.”

According to Rodriguez, the Empathy Bot was created not to be the smartest bot, but the most human-like bot.

“If you’re in a room full of people, you don’t want to talk to the smartest. You want to talk to the most friendly, yes, the most empathetic — that you can relate to,” said Rodriguez, explaining the concept behind the chatbot company.

Meanwhile, Latinore, headquartered in Pasadena, is focused on using technology as a learning vehicle, including chatbots.

“Latin Renaissance is all about helping people achieve their dreams,” Rodriguez said. “One of the main programs I create is train AI workouts and bootcamps for teenagers and adults alike.”

Train AI will teach you about the latest AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney and others.

I want to help as many people as possible by using technology and using these new artificial intelligence chatbots to serve customers better or train inner city kids how to properly motivate and create better reports. Get into better schools. These are two ways I give back to my community, and I do it all in a productive and meaningful way.

Rodriguez will talk more about how AI can best be used by businesses of all sizes at the upcoming conference.

“We [will talk] How to use this creativity muscle, how to build that muscle and then how to use creativity – putting artificial intelligence into integration. When those two things come together, some amazing things happen.

Presented by Echo-Factory and Innovate Pasadena, the Friday Coffee Meetup is a weekly series of speakers showcasing local innovation and giving the community an inside look at innovation in the city.

To register for the event, visit: https://www.meetup.com/innovation-friday-coffee-meetup/events/293920570/.

Those unable to attend the event in person can connect with Christy Conner to watch the LinkedIn live stream. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyconner/.