Think Tank Series
Synthesis Industry and Tech Briefs
Open CTO Projects
Ikhlaq Sidhu, Lead
Recent Student Research Fellows
Omar Afifi, University of Michigan
Aswin Subramanian Maheswaran, IE University
Abhishek Koul, University of Wisconsin
Victor Okoro, University of Ottawa, UC Berkeley
Sara-Nel Ünal, IE University, University of Edinburgh
Recent Open Reports and Publications in Support of Open Science
Sidhu I., “AI, Agentic Organizations, and the Future of Software” Synthesis Industry Tech Brief, May 2026 (download)
The recent Synthesis discussion highlighted a major inflection point in artificial intelligence, software engineering, and venture investing. Participants described the current period as comparable to a “Gutenberg Press moment”.
Afifi, Subramanian, Koul, Sidhu (PI), et al, “Truth and Information Integrity in a Digital and AI-Powered World” Think Tank Lab Report, June 2025 (download)
Given the increasing concerns regarding truth and information integrity, this technical brief considers the issue, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence, as technologies that utilize AI systems have amplified this issue.
Sidhu, I., “Responsible AI Guardrails and UK Regulation” Synthesis Industry Tech Brief, May 2026 (download)
This brief uses the UK fintech and responsible AI context as a case study. It argues that the next phase of AI regulation should treat guardrails as an engineered control system: a combination of law, model behavior, data provenance, evaluation, monitoring, human escalation, auditability, infrastructure accountability, and democratic legitimacy.
Sidhu, I., “An AI Engineering Curriculum for the Future of Computer Science” Synthesis Industry Tech Brief, May 2026 (download)
This brief argues that the future of computer science education should not be organized around manual code production alone, but around the design, evaluation, deployment, and governance of intelligent computational systems.
Okoro, Ünal, Sidhu (PI), “AI Strategy Development: A Guide to How and Why”, Think Tank Lab Report, June 2025 (download)
As a guide to developing an effective AI strategy, grounded in real-world experience and shaped by lessons from a major institutional project, this report highlights common pitfalls, emerging best practices, and the value of collaborative, cross-university insight.
For Archive and Reference:
Technical Briefs
AI & Power:
“AI and Sustainability”, Catalyst Tech Brief, August 2024
“Is the Future of AI Analog”, Catalyst Tech Brief, 2024
“AI and Power Grids (tech brief), Catalyst Tech Brief, 2024
CPU vs GPU, The Economist Impact Series Report, May 2025
AI Strategy; Information Integrity (Work in Progress)
AI Strategy Best Practices (Coming Soon)
Power Hungry Processing: Watts Driving the Cost of AI Deployment? https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.16863
This shows that 2.9 KWHs with a 3.31 KW standard deviation are required for one Gen AI image generation.Goldman Sachs: How much power will AI use? It will be stoked partly by electrification and industrial re-shoring but also by AI. Data centers will use 8% of US power by 2030, compared with 3% in 2022.May 14, 2024
https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/AI-poised-to-drive-160-increase-in-power-demand.htmlSidhu, AI Power Consumption, LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-next-global-sustainability-challenge-solution-ikhlaq-sidhu-9ogef/?trackingId=ufXtFNxLQTCIVlkWf83MYA%3D%3D
(The prior post is here):The Data Center Market size is estimated to reach $418 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2023 to 2030. According to USITC, as of 2022, there are approximately 8000 physical data centers present across the globe. https://www.industryarc.com/Report/19401/data-center-market.html
Platt, The Unbelievable Zombie Comeback of Analog Computing, Wired, March 30, 2023
Ghose, Reducing AI’s Climate Impact: Everything You Always Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask, https://scet.berkeley.edu/reducing-ais-climate-impact-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/
Ariel Cohen, AI Is Pushing The World Toward An Energy Crisis, Forbes, May 2024
AI Health and Medicine:
Please take a look at this article on the IE-HBKU Health Technology Collider Summary.
See how digital biomarkers are part of the future of healthcare. In this case example, medical testing is done at home instead of using medical resources and hospital staff. Onera Health (see post)
Education and Future of Work:
A Blueprint Science & Technology - Why new options for academics are now possible and needed.
Future of Work - Why we can't live without AI, and what we can expect in the Workplace
Economist Summit 2024 - Viewpoints from CEOs and industry leaders on AI adoption, use cases, and business trends
A Practical Guide to Education in an AI World - How to manage with AI as an instructor and academic institution.
A Northstar for the 20-Year Future of Education with AI - What we can expect for students in classes, the professors changing role, and what disruptions are likely for universities.
State of the Union 2024 at the European University Institute - Technology, regulation, and the main issues of the EU in 2024
Certainty or Intelligence: Pick One! - A discussion of logical intelligence vs predictive and pattern matching-based intelligence by Prof. Edward Lee of Berkeley
Sidhu, Education in Crisis. What can we offer the other 99%? The Problem is Big. AI is only part of the Answer. LI, October 14, 2024
Sidhu, Why are we not ready for Project-based Mastery Learning? LI Post, Octover 20, 2024
AI and Clean Tech
AI Data & Crypto Tools:
AI, Truth and Trust
Sidhu, et al, “Truth and Information Integrity in a Digital and AI-Powered World” Think Tank Lab Report, June 2025
Financial and Mobile Systems
What's Next: Future of Virtual Asset Regulation - Summary of the Ripple UBRI XRP Collider for Virtual Asset Regulation
AI and New Energy Sources