Building AI Boston

At the heart of every revolution is an idea that expands who gets to participate.

In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Sandy Lacy, the founding executive director of the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind, to explore how accessibility, AI, and Boston’s innovation ecosystem are converging to reshape what inclusive technology can look like.

For nearly 200 years, Perkins has been inventing solutions that open doors for people with disabilities — from the iconic Perkins Brailler to global education programs that reach more than a million children and families. Sandy’s work carries that legacy forward by catalyzing collaboration across startups, universities, corporations, and government to accelerate innovation in disability tech.

We dive into:
• Why accessibility is not a niche issue but a universal one — affecting 25% of Americans today and nearly all of us eventually
• How Boston’s unique AI and innovation ecosystem is poised to lead the nation in accessible technology
• The unexpected power of “low-tech” innovation — including furniture made from adaptive cardboard that unlocks learning for kids
• The future of braille literacy, and how AI could personalize and gamify learning for both children and adults

The $18 trillion economic opportunity most companies overlook when they fail to build accessibly
Why inclusive design is simply better design, and how businesses, engineers, and founders can embed accessibility from day one.

Sandy also shares volunteer opportunities, the role AI can play in scaling global accessibility, and why everyone — regardless of lived experience — has a place in this movement.

This is a conversation about innovation, inclusion, and building technology that meets the world where it is. And it’s a reminder of what Boston does best: start revolutions that everyone can join.

Sandy Lacey
Executive Director, Howe Innovation Center
https://howeinnovation.org/team/sandy-lacey/

Perkins School for the Blind
Main site
https://www.perkins.org
Howe Innovation Center
https://howeinnovation.org
Perkins Assistive Technology & Innovation
https://www.perkins.org/our-work/technology/
Disability Innovation Database (global mapping Sandy discussed)
https://disabilityinnovation.perkins.org

Volunteer Opportunities
https://www.perkins.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Global Impact & Programs
https://www.perkins.org/global/

Perkins Brailler
https://www.perkins.org/perkins-brailler/

At the heart of every revolution is an idea that expands who gets to participate.
In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Sandy Lacy, the founding executive director of the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind, to explore how accessibility, AI, and Boston’s innovation ecosystem are converging to reshape what inclusive technology can look like.
For nearly 200 years, Perkins has been inventing solutions that open doors for people with disabilities — from the iconic Perkins Brailler to global education programs that reach more than a million children and families. Sandy’s work carries that legacy forward by catalyzing collaboration across startups, universities, corporations, and government to accelerate innovation in disability tech.

We dive into:
• Why accessibility is not a niche issue but a universal one — affecting 25% of Americans today and nearly all of us eventually
• How Boston’s unique AI and innovation ecosystem is poised to lead the nation in accessible technology
• The unexpected power of “low-tech” innovation — including furniture made from adaptive cardboard that unlocks learning for kids
• The future of braille literacy, and how AI could personalize and gamify learning for both children and adults

The $18 trillion economic opportunity most companies overlook when they fail to build accessibly
Why inclusive design is simply better design, and how businesses, engineers, and founders can embed accessibility from day one.

Sandy also shares volunteer opportunities, the role AI can play in scaling global accessibility, and why everyone — regardless of lived experience — has a place in this movement.

This is a conversation about innovation, inclusion, and building technology that meets the world where it is. And it’s a reminder of what Boston does best: start revolutions that everyone can join.

Sandy Lacey
Executive Director, Howe Innovation Center
https://howeinnovation.org/team/sandy-lacey/

Perkins School for the Blind
Main site
https://www.perkins.org
Howe Innovation Center
https://howeinnovation.org
Perkins Assistive Technology & Innovation
https://www.perkins.org/our-work/technology/
Disability Innovation Database (global mapping Sandy discussed)
https://disabilityinnovation.perkins.org

Volunteer Opportunities
https://www.perkins.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Global Impact & Programs
https://www.perkins.org/global/

Perkins Brailler
https://www.perkins.org/perkins-brailler/

In this episode of Building AI Boston, we sit down with Raquel Ronzone, Associate Director of Strategy & Partnerships at the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind. Raquel shares her powerful story of being born four months premature with Retinopathy of Prematurity and how that experience fuels her work connecting the disability community with the innovation community. We talk about why accessibility is everyone’s business, why disability is the only group anyone can join at any time, and how many of the “everyday” technologies we rely on—from touchscreens to audiobooks—actually began as disability tech.

Raquel also explains the $40B opportunity in disability innovation, the gap between what people with disabilities truly need and what the market builds, and how Perkins is mapping more than 2,500 disability tech solutions worldwide. It’s a hopeful, practical conversation about designing for real people—not edge cases.

Building AI Boston – https://BuildingAIBoston.com
Perkins School for the Blind – https://www.perkins.org
Howe Innovation Center – https://www.perkins.org/howe-innovation-center
Raquel Ranzone (LinkedIn) – https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquelronzone/
Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-ai-boston/id
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/building-ai-boston
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingAIBoston

In this episode of Building AI Boston, co-hosts Anna Devere and Kara Peterson sit down with Jenn Azar, CEO of Stellix, a visionary leader helping accelerate innovation at the intersection of science, technology, and human ingenuity.

They explore how AI, digital transformation, and Industry 5.0 are reshaping the future of life sciences and drug discovery—from advanced manufacturing to personalized medicine—and how leaders can guide teams through change with empathy, humor, and purpose.

Highlights:
• How Industry 5.0 is bridging discovery and delivery in life sciences
• The digital acceleration of drug discovery and biomanufacturing
• Building adaptive, curious teams in a rapidly changing world
• Why technology should create more space for human creativity
• What it takes to lead with optimism and resilience amid transformation

AI isn’t just transforming industry—it’s redefining how science moves from the lab to life.

• 🌐 BuildingAIBoston.com

• 🎧 Listen on Spotify

• 🎥 Watch on YouTube

• 💼 Learn more about Stellix: https://www.stellix.com

• 👥 Follow co-hosts: Anna Devere | Kara Peterson

  #BuildingAIBoston, #AI, #Industry5_0, #DigitalTransformation, #LifeSciencesInnovation, #DrugDiscovery, #Biomanufacturing, #Stellix, #JennAzar, #HumanCenteredAI, #AIinBiotech, #FutureOfWork, #TechWithPurpose, #WomenInAI, #AIBoston, #LeadershipInAI, #ScienceAndTechnology, #AIForGood, #InnovationPodcast, #BostonTech

🎙️ New Episode: Building Future Innovators

In this episode of Building AI Boston, co-hosts Anna Devere and Kara Peterson sit down with Charlotte Duncan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation and Harvard-trained educator.

They explore how AI is transforming the way students learn — and why empowering the next generation with ethical, creative, and hands-on AI experience matters more than ever.Highlights:   

 •    Learning vs. teaching — why students need both in the AI era    

•    The next digital divide: empowered AI users vs. everyone else    

•    How the Mark Cuban Foundation’s free AI bootcamps work (mentors, projects, real-world skills)   

•    Why human connection and communication will define the future workforce    

•    How students are already building real AI solutions — including a TIME “Kid of the Year” alumAI isn’t just reshaping technology — it’s reshaping education, opportunity, and the future of work.

#BuildingAIBoston #AI #EdTech #MarkCubanFoundation #Innovation #BostonAI #BostonTech

Live from Suffolk University during Boston Startup AI Week!In this special episode of Building AI Boston, co-host Kara Peterson sits down with Parag Shah of CarGurus, a leader in applying AI and data science to bring more trust and transparency to car buying and selling.CarGurus is harnessing the power of AI to transform the car-shopping experience—empowering consumers with greater personalization, richer vehicle data, and smarter deal ratings, while helping dealers connect with customers more effectively and make data-driven decisions that support their business.In this conversation, Parag Shah shares insights on:* How CarGurus leverages AI to revolutionize the car-buying experience* The challenges and opportunities of AI in large-scale consumer platforms* Why Boston is emerging as a global hub for AI innovation* What the future of automotive commerce looks like in an AI-driven worldWhether you’re an entrepreneur, technologist, or consumer, this episode shines a light on how AI is driving smarter solutions in one of the world’s largest industries.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Building AI Boston for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of AI.

Hashtags
#BuildingAIBoston #BostonStartupWeek #BostonAI #ArtificialIntelligence #CarGurus #AI #BostonTech #StartupBoston #BostonInnovation

Recorded live at Suffolk University during Boston Startup Week, this special episode of Building AI Boston brings together innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of AI.

Our guest, Brendan Witcher, a leading analyst and visionary on customer experience and digital strategy, shares powerful insights on how artificial intelligence is transforming businesses, reshaping consumer expectations, and influencing the startup ecosystem.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
How startups can leverage AI to accelerate growth and scale smarter
The biggest challenges and opportunities AI presents for entrepreneurs
Why Boston is becoming a global hub for AI innovation
Brendan’s perspective on the next big wave in digital transformation
Whether you’re a founder, innovator, or AI enthusiast, this live conversation will inspire new ways of thinking about technology and its role in building the future.

Stay connected:
Visit us: https://www.buildingaiboston.com
Want to sponsor Building AI Boston? Email us at info@buildingaiboston.com

#BuildingAIBoston #BostonStartupWeek #ArtificialIntelligence #BrendanWitcher #SuffolkUniversity #BostonStartups

n this episode of Building AI Boston, host Dan Gilman sits down with Brendan Witcher, a leading voice on digital strategy and innovation, to break down what businesses really need in their Smarter AI Playbook.

Brendan shares practical insights into how organizations can successfully adopt AI without getting lost in the hype. From aligning AI initiatives with customer experience to overcoming the cultural and operational roadblocks, this conversation is all about turning AI into real business outcomes.

🔹 Topics we cover include:

• Why most AI initiatives fail—and how to fix it

• Building a smarter AI playbook for growth and impact

• How Boston companies are leading the way in AI adoption

• The human side of AI: trust, transparency, and customer value

• What’s next in the AI revolution

If you’re a business leader, innovator, or AI enthusiast looking for actionable strategies, this episode is packed with insights you can use today.

📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations from the heart of Boston’s AI movement.

#BuildingAIBoston #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #BostonTech #BrendanWitcher #SmarterAI

In this episode of Building AI Boston, we are honored to welcome Dr. Ami Bhatt, a nationally recognized leader in cardiology, digital health innovation, and AI-driven patient care.

Dr. Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology and Chair of the inaugural Digital Health Advisory Committee at the FDA, shares how Boston is at the forefront of reimagining healthcare through AI and technology.

Learn how Dr. Bhatt is transforming patient experiences and leading the next generation of healthcare innovation.

Connect with Dr. Ami Bhatt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramibhatt/
American College of Cardiology: https://www.acc.org

Join us as we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, telehealth, predictive analytics, and the future of cardiovascular care.

Subscribe for more conversations about Boston’s AI future!
#BuildingAIBoston #DigitalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthcareInnovation #BostonTech #FutureOfMedicine #Cardiology #Telehealth

🎙️ Just dropped: A new Building AI Boston episode with Stephanie Roulic, Founder & CEO of Startup Boston!

Get the inside story on Boston’s startup ecosystem—and how AI is changing the game for founders and innovators. Stephanie shares her journey building Startup Boston, the power of community-driven innovation, and how today’s AI tools are making entrepreneurship more accessible than ever.
Don’t miss this episode—and don’t miss your chance to join Startup Boston Week, the region’s biggest (and most welcoming) event for founders, operators, and the startup-curious. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s your ticket to new ideas, powerful connections, and a firsthand look at how AI is shaping the future of business.

🚀 Register for Startup Boston Week: https://www.startupbos.org/sbw2025
#buildingaiboston #StartupBoston #StartupBostonWeek #BostonTech #Entrepreneurship #AI #Innovation #communityleadership