Innovating at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Humanity

Jim Caruso, Chief Innovation Officer at Elevate, delivered an engaging talk titled “The Impact of AI in Business & Entrepreneurship” at Montclair State University on October 15. Speaking to faculty and students in computer science, communication, and business, Caruso shared interdisciplinary insights and perspectives drawn from his career spanning technology startups, AI-driven innovation, data analytics, data-driven audience engagement, AI governance, and response use of AI.

Caruso, who previously co-founded Apollo Program, an AI-driven platform providing creative and contextual insights for business strategies, has spent two decades at the forefront of data and technology. Tracing how AI revolutionized media buying to real-time automated systems, he illustrated how AI has transformed decision-making at scale from weeks to 30 milliseconds. But the real question is, as he cautioned the audience, “Are those decisions actually more intelligent?”

Caruso explained the emerging major leap with the rise of consumer-focused large language models (LLMs) capable of interpreting data and delivering insights in natural language. He encouraged students to view AI not as a threat but as a creative partner: “AI isn’t just automation–it’s augmentation. The best companies solve problems. Technology is just the tool.”

Caruso also debunked the myth that successful entrepreneurs must be deeply technical: “You don’t have to be a coder to be innovative. The major happens when technical talent and business creativity merge together.” Drawing on his entrepreneurial experience, he offered practice guidance for aspiring tech and business founders. First, focus on finding friction, identifying a real problem worth solving. Second, it’s critical to validate before building as “90% of startups fail because they build before they validate.” Lastly, keep iterating. There is no single path to success.

In closing, Caruso encouraged students to embrace curiosity and continuous learning: “AI is changing how we work—and what’s possible. The opportunity for your generation is to apply it thoughtfully, creatively, and responsibly.”

This AI talk is co-supported by IEEE, Montclair School of Computing, College of Communication and Media, Montclair AI Hub, RIGS Faculty Fellows Program, and National Science Foundation under Grant CMMI-2338767. This joint event highlights the power of collaboration between technical and creative disciplines, inspiring participants to harness AI and promote AI governance to enhance human well-being.