Senior Scientist Hari Viswanathan
LWV News:
The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos (LWV) February Lunch with a Leader community event is noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall on Sage.
The featured speaker is Hari Viswanathan who will be presenting a Non-Technical Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Viswanathan was born in Suffern, N.Y. and moved to Los Alamos in 2nd grade in 1977 with his parents VK and Selvi Viswanathan who still live in Los Alamos. He graduated from Los Alamos High School 1989. He holds advanced degrees in chemical and environmental engineering and is a Laboratory Fellow in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division.
In 2001, Viswanathan returned to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory. His expertise is in subsurface energy systems and artificial intelligence. He has led large multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional projects in areas such as carbon sequestration and locating undocumented orphan wells. He enjoys travel, tennis and wildlife photography with his wife Gowri and son Aditya.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every aspect of daily lives, from how people interact with technology to how decisions are made in critical sectors. In his talk, Viswanathan will explore the profound ways AI is shaping the world, both positively and negatively—enhancing efficiency and creativity while raising important ethical and social challenges.
Viswanathan will also share insights into the practical applications of AI in scientific research, highlighting how it helps analyze complex data, accelerate discoveries and solve problems previously thought impossible. Whether it’s revolutionizing healthcare, climate research or engineering, AI is becoming an indispensable tool in modern science. At the same time, Viswanathan will reflect on the responsibility that comes with its power, addressing issues like bias, transparency and the need for human oversight.
This talk aims to demystify AI and spark a conversation about how to harness it responsibly for the greater good.