On March 4, we hosted the AI in 2024 event at Microsoft Ibérica’s headquarters in Madrid. Close to 300 people attended, bringing together experts from Founderz and Microsoft to discuss the trends that will define the future of the field.
The speakers who led the session were:
- Manuel Cortizo, ISV Lead at Microsoft
- Jose María Caffarena, Cloud Architect at Microsoft
- Anna Torres, Data Security Technology Specialist at Microsoft
- Anna Cejudo, co-CEO and co-founder of Founderz
- Pau Garcia-Milà, co-CEO and co-founder of Founderz
Unveiling the future of AI
During this session, Microsoft’s innovation experts shared their perspective on the current state of generative artificial intelligence and its impact on the world.
Manuel Cortizo, ISV Lead at Microsoft, opened the event by highlighting the importance of AI and its evolution from machine learning concepts to content generation through generative AI.
Cortizo pointed to the arrival of ChatGPT as a turning point, the moment generative AI became accessible and highly capable. That ability to create an immediate, massive impact, capturing the attention of millions of users in a short span of time, has been key to the rise of generative AI.
In this context, he emphasized that generative AI is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift in technology with deep implications for the future of work, software development, and new forms of digital interaction.
Next, Jose María Caffarena, Cloud Architect at Microsoft, reflected on the evolution and impact of generative AI in both professional and personal settings.
He discussed the importance of collaboration and effective communication with AI, comparing the pilot-copilot relationship as a model for understanding how we interact with the technology. That parallel underscores the need for mutual understanding to reach shared goals efficiently.
He also showed how Copilot can generate content from simple text prompts, turning those instructions into complex outputs such as text, images, or art.
Anna Torres, Data Security Technology Specialist, pointed out the problem with treating AI-based tools as finished, static products, like a completed work of art, rather than as a blank canvas ready to be explored and customized.
Anna compared access to tools like Microsoft Copilot to acquiring a blank canvas: the real value and differentiation come from how it is customized and integrated with relevant, governed, and secure content.
In her talk, she stressed the importance of building security measures into the use of these technologies, to ensure the content they generate meets the required privacy and confidentiality standards.
Finally, Anna reframed the well-known claim about AI and the future of work: the people who get ahead will be the ones who know how to get the most out of these technologies.
What’s new in the 2024 AI Master’s program
In the second half of the session, we shared everything new in the 2024 edition of our Master’s in AI and Innovation, developed together with Microsoft.
Anna Cejudo, co-CEO and co-founder of Founderz, talked about the vision and mission behind building Founderz, which aims to transform lives through accessible, high-quality education.
Anna talked about the gap in traditional education, where online learning often lacks interaction and collaboration, while professionals prepare for a job market that evolves faster than traditional education can keep up with.
Founderz was created to close that gap, offering programs that provide not only up-to-date technical knowledge but also a rich educational experience that encourages collaboration among students, instructors, and industry leaders.
For 2024, Anna announced two pillars behind Founderz’s improved educational experience: collaboration and personalization.
Collaboration is supported by a new virtual campus built by the Founderz team, designed to create a learning ecosystem where students can interact, share knowledge, and feel part of a community.
Personalization, meanwhile, comes from using AI to tailor the learning experience to each student’s individual needs. She introduced “Z,” an AI tool built to guide and support students throughout their studies, able to explain concepts, summarize classes, and generate personalized tests.
To close, Pau Garcia-Milà, co-CEO and co-founder of Founderz, shared his thoughts on the importance of adapting and staying proactive in the age of AI.
He pointed out that in this new era, with AI handling more of the repetitive, routine tasks, people can spend more time doing exactly that: being human. That means more than just thinking and bringing creativity; it also means directing the use of these tools to maximize their potential.
Generative AI opens a window of opportunity for experts to combine their experience with the power of AI to work more effectively and creatively.
Pau highlighted Founderz’s commitment to continuous learning, confirming that students from previous editions of the Master’s program will not be left behind: every student will have access to new content and updates, so no one loses progress or has to switch programs to get the latest updates.
The core message of his talk: when it comes to AI, we need to make the most of the technology to improve our abilities without letting it replace us.
