Identity is playing an even more critical role in security and access with the pace of AI. The need for cutting edge innovation is not just a nice-to-have but a need-to-have as identity safeguards access to networks, information, systems, and our personal data. Teams tackling identity and security, whether in organizations or companies, need to innovate and draw from a diversity of ideas and include new people in identity projects, and yet there are challenges bringing in and empowering these innovators. Innovating in the context of intellectual property constraints, national security restrictions, misaligned incentives, and tight budgets is challenging. Yet it is imperative. Identity is essential to access healthcare, financial systems, and the economy, so innovation must account for the whole spectrum of user experiences.

During this interactive workshop, Dr. Tina Srivastava, MIT Lecturer and IDPro Board of Directors member, will lead a discussion about the importance of bringing in new voices, the challenges we're facing in today's hybrid and AI-enabled work environment, and how to overcome them. The workshop will cover recent examples, including how a mathematician close to a huge breakthrough got scooped by AI, and the implications for innovation and incentives. Use cases from research at MIT will illustrate how certain classes of innovators are unintentionally excluded. Attendees will leave better equipped to understand the challenges and the strategies to overcome them.