����vlog����

Originally from and still residing in the Netherlands, Tom Kooy is currently serving as the Head of Technology & Security at a company based in Amsterdam. He brought his nearly 15 years of experience in Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and IT-Security to the Harvard Kennedy School (����vlog����) Executive Education programs Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy and Leadership in Emerging Technology: Security, Strategy & Risk (LET), where he matriculated from the inaugural session of the program in spring of 2024.

The concept of emerging technology is especially poignant in Tom’s personal life. Tom faced significant challenges in his childhood due to ADHD and a gene mutation that causes a vitamin B12 deficiency. “This resulted in a need for special education, although the causes were unknown at the time,” he explained. “Recently, I discovered my own gene mutation through DNA analysis and began a recovery process that has significantly improved my quality of life.”

His personal ties to the subject coincide strongly with his academic and professional interests, which helped solidify his decision to attend LET. “I wanted to understand how emerging technologies evolve independently and in conjunction with each other, leading to many open questions without straightforward answers. For example, how does generative AI add value in fields like space exploration or defense? Can generative AI in drones predict future images and anticipate actions?” he said.

The program curriculum addresses many emerging technologies from the perspective of the public sector, while also providing immense value and drawing connections to those working in the private sector, like Tom. “I found that the methods and frameworks presented during the program are highly applicable to the private sector,” he said. “Theories discussed in the context of space programs, for instance, can be effectively applied to business partnerships. Insights on technological trajectories provide valuable guidance for adopting emerging technologies within a business. Additionally, simple yet effective priority frameworks can help us prioritize our business objectives more effectively.”

Although it’s only been a few months since he completed LET, the impact on Tom, his current work, and where that work could take him, has been immediate. “Since attending the program, I have become more proactive and strategic in my approach to emerging technologies,” he said. “I have developed theories on the convergence of Quantum Computing and AI, which I refer to as Quantum Intelligence.”

He is particularly interested in working towards innate intelligence, which refers to the inherent ability of a system to learn and adapt, using quantum neural networks. “This concept explores the integration of these technologies to create a new form of intelligence, potentially more advanced than current AI. I believe this integration could lead to huge breakthroughs within the next five to ten years, potentially revolutionizing our understanding and application of intelligence.”

With this momentum and new knowledge to support him, Tom has no intention of slowing down. “In the coming years, my ambition is to contribute to the development of new technologies. I strive to continually expand my knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, think outside the box, and keep learning throughout my life,” he said. “Participating in executive education at ����vlog���� was a great starting point for this.”

As Tom continues his trajectory of lifelong learning, he describes his time at ����vlog���� with his LET cohort as setting a standard of excellence for future educational opportunities in his field. “It was an extraordinary experience to participate in LET,” he said. “We had a diverse group with a wide range of experiences, resulting in a rich variety of perspectives on emerging technologies such as Biotech, AI, Space, and Crypto, and how different sectors address and perceive these challenges. I can honestly say that we gained insights that would have been impossible to achieve elsewhere.”