AI at Scale: Deployment, Challenges, and Governance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Scale

This Startup Tri-Valley event organized with the City of Dublin and hosted by Patelco Credit Union feature Dr. Caspar Donnison, PhD from LLNL. Dr. Donnison will explore the infrastructure challenges and innovation opportunities in scaling AI across industries. Drawing on insights from a recently published AI policy report authored by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the discussion will highlight the physical and economic dimensions of AI deployment—from energy and data center needs to labor market impacts and national security implications. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the market potential for scalable hard tech solutions and the role of regional innovation ecosystems like the Tri-Valley in shaping the future of AI.

This event is perfect for:

• Tech Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders
  Especially those building AI-driven or infrastructure-heavy solutions who want to understand the physical and economic barriers to scaling AI.
  Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights from Tri-Valley innovators!
• Investors & Venture Capitalists
  Interested in identifying scalable hard tech opportunities and regional innovation ecosystems like the Tri-Valley.
• Policy Makers & Government Officials
  Focused on AI regulation, national security, labor market shifts, and infrastructure planning.
• Enterprise Innovation Leaders & CTOs
  Looking to deploy AI at scale and navigate challenges related to energy, data centers, and workforce readiness.
• Researchers & Academics
  Especially those in AI, economics, energy systems, or public policy, who want to engage with real-world applications and regional innovation models.
• Economic Development Professionals
  Exploring how regional ecosystems like the Tri-Valley can support AI innovation and attract investment.
• Workforce Development & Education Leaders
  Interested in preparing talent pipelines for AI-related jobs and understanding labor market impacts.
• Sustainability & Infrastructure Experts
  Focused on the environmental and energy implications of AI deployment at scale.

About the Speaker

Dr. Caspar Donnison is an interdisciplinary scientist and economist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). His research covers the fields of environmental economics, environmental science, and policy analysis. He is an author of the LLNL report 'AI in Eight Pages', in which he was responsible for assessing economic opportunities and impacts of the development of AI technologies in California. Caspar has a strong interest in science communication and engaging with policy makers, recently testifying to the California State Assembly committee system, on permit reform, and providing expertise during the Legislature's discussions on Cap-and-Trade reauthorization. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental economics from the University of Southampton, UK, and a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford, UK.

About Patelco Credit Union

Dublin, Calif.-based Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit credit union committed to serving the financial health and well-being of its membership. With more than 450,000 members, primarily in and around northern California, Patelco is dedicated to improving its members’ financial health and well-being by offering personalized solutions, advice, and expertise that empower members to live their best financial lives. Founded in 1936 with $500 in assets by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company employees, Patelco now has more than $9 billion in assets. For more information, visit https://www.patelco.org/.

About Startup Tri-Valley
Startup Tri-Valley is an initiative to grow and strengthen our region by helping more startups succeed. We do this by connecting founders and innovators to a tightly networked ecosystem of resources built specifically for science-based startups. The initiative is sponsored by the Tri-Valley cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and the Town of Danville and i-GATE Innovation Hub partners Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories. To learn more, visit startuptrivalley.org or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.