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 K. Lacey, 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 world. Whether 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