Glass Leadership Inst. Members
Artificial Intolerance: Antisemitism and the Implications of Generative AI
Featuring Sedale Turbovsky, Sara Aniano, Deb Donig, Vlad Khaykin
Speakers
Sedale Turbovsky
Chief Technology Officer, SHFT
Sedale Turbovsky Sedale serves as Chief Technology Officer for SHFT, a revolutionary new AI powered platform to counter disinformation and hate.
A serial entrepreneur and technologist, Sedale dropped out of school to launch his first company as a full stack digital agency developing technology products for a diverse portfolio that included notable companies like Momentum, Anaergia, Thermogenesis, Athena Intelligence & Waffle. Over the course of the next decade, Sedale built and scaled multiple technology startups and cultivated a dynamic team that has since evolved into his co-founders, investors, and collaborators. Sedale’s expertise centers around machine learning, artificial intelligence and data science. Inspired by the power of data-driven story-telling, Sedale’s career has exemplified his dedication to leveraging the power of computers to democratize access to power, influence, and resources. The application of AI and machine learning has been a common thread in each of his four startups to date. His latest venture is an AI tool focused on crafting strategies to counter antisemitic and other extremist disinformation online.
Over the last ten years Sedale has led, invested in and supported technology startups working in the government technology and the
progressive politics space. His work and products have been backed by leading venture capital firms, philanthropists and impact focused family offices. Notably, Sedale Turbovsky co-founded OpenGrants, a venture-backed startup focused on building modern infrastructure for grant funding. Prior to OpenGrants, Sedale served as the CEO of carbonBLU, a venture, and grant-backed SaaS startup solving challenges in fleet management.
In addition to his work with startups, he is an advisor to the Switchback Fund, focused on investing in solutions to strengthen our democracy and a founding member of Momentum X Ventures, a startup studio focused on developing climate related fintech companies. When he is not building revolutionary technology companies, Sedale enjoys serving as a river guide.
Sara Aniano
Disinformation Analyst, Center on Extremism, ADL
Sara Aniano (she/her) is a Disinformation Analyst at the ADL Center on Extremism, tracking misinformation, disinformation and conspiratorial narratives that embolden extremists both on and offline. She joined ADL after earning her Master’s in Communication from Monmouth University, where she focused her scholarly research on conspiratorial rhetoric leading up to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, which she was invited to submit to the January 6th Committee. At the Center on Extremism, Sara sheds light on the strategies and real-world repercussions of false narratives and aims to hold accountable those who allow them to spread.
Deb Donig
Professor and ADL Belfer Fellow
Deb Donig is an Assistant Professor of English Literature at Cal Poly and a Lecturer UC Berkeley’s School of Information in the MA in Data Science Program. She is the co-founder of the Cal Poly Ethical Technology Initiative and the host of “Technically Human,” a podcast where she talks with major thinkers, writers, and industry-leading technologists about the relationship between humans and the technologies we create. She is the 2023-2024 Belfer Fellow at the Center for Technology and Society at the ADL and a Fellow at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She has taught and published on a wide variety of areas, including ethical technology, comparative genocide studies, science fiction, African and Caribbean literatures, and The New Yorker. Her first book is on comparative genocide and the ecology of evidence in human rights discourse.
Outside of academia, she consults on film and television projects, including the forthcoming anthology series “Weight of the World,” and the Amazon Prime Series Hunters, produced by Jordan Peele and starring Al Pacino. In 2020, she was featured as an expert in the documentary “Hunters: Behind the Scenes,” where she discussed the role of fiction in and the ethics of representing the Holocaust.
Vlad Khaykin
Director, Public Research and Knowledge, Center for Antisemitism Research, ADL
Vlad Khaykin is a distinguished expert renowned for his knowledge in the fields of antisemitism, extremism, discrimination, and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. With a reputation that extends worldwide, Vlad’s expertise has been sought after by government agencies, NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, and prominent media outlets.
With nearly two decades of influential roles at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Jewish Committee (AJC), and other respected advocacy and Jewish communal organizations, Vlad’s thought leadership has left an indelible impact.
He has advised leading media and tech companies and provided thoughtful commentary for numerous major news outlets. The innovative educational programs Vlad has designed have been utilized by institutions across North America and beyond to empower young people with new knowledge. He has produced pioneering research to open new avenues of understanding.
Vlad has organized international conferences and drafted impactful remarks delivered at the United Nations and other global platforms, influencing policy discussions and shaping the perspectives of influential stakeholders. Additionally, his expertise has been sought by lawmakers and law enforcement agencies, contributing to their understanding of hate and extremism, and informing effective responses.
Vlad Khaykin is not only a compelling speaker but also a powerful advocate and incisive analyst. His dedication is backed by extensive academic study and over a decade of hands-on experience with leading anti-hate and counter-extremism institutions.
Vlad earned dual Master’s degrees in Non-Profit Leadership and Near Eastern & Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, where he was awarded the Genesis Fellowship, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Management from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
A former refugee from state-sponsored antisemitism in the Soviet Union and a grandson of Holocaust survivors, Vlad’s approach to ADL’s work to combat antisemitism and secure justice and fair treatment to all is deeply personal.
Selected Media
Corporate America Has Seen a Rise in Discrimination and Bias Against Jewish Workers
Words Matter. How Business Leaders Can Respond to the Rise of Antisemitism
As Antisemitism Grows So Do Its Dangers to Everyone
No Lone Shooter: How Antisemitism is Winning New Converts on the Internet