Breakthrough Technological Innovations and AI-Integrated Solutions for Complex Societal Challenges

Complex societal challenges require an "all hands on deck" approach, requiring methodologies and infrastructure to support collaborative teams. This talk will outline the critical role and synergistic catalysis potential of advanced cyberinfrastructure (CI) and artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the effectiveness and scalability of innovations and team work, discussing both the technological underpinnings and practical implementations of AI-integrated solutions and systems. Through examining real case studies leveraging open data platforms and scalable CI, the talk will highlight the role of composable systems and services to catalyze platforms to empower users from all backgrounds to engage in meaningful research, learning, and discovery. We will explore interdisciplinary approaches that combine expertise from multiple fields, enabling the creation of innovative, sustainable solutions that can adapt to evolving challenges. We will also discuss the needs for a digital continuum and AI-integrated ecosystem where data and research infrastructure are seamlessly integrated and universally accessible, bridging the gaps between data and computing through robust services, facilitating an inclusive AI landscape that empowers diverse research communities and domains. This approach underscores the importance of open, extensible, and equitable systems in driving forward the capabilities of AI, ultimately contributing to the resolution of grand scientific and societal challenges. Lastly, we will overview how the National Data Platform (NDP) and WIFIRE use this integrated use-inspired services approach to lower the barriers to entry and to streamline research and education workflows as well as societal challenges.