FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2026 – EqualAI convened yesterday an Agentic AI Summit, bringing together senior executives from Amazon Web Services, JPMorgan Chase, Google DeepMind, Verizon, M&T Bank, SAS, Priceline and others for a full-day forum on agentic AI. The summit featured a discussion with acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, an executive peer workshop, and a live simulation to drive deeper awareness on governance frameworks, as well as leadership, organizational and ecosystem capabilities needed to meet the capabilities of agentic AI.
“It’s a privilege to host the annual EqualAI Summit, the rare space where leaders across industry come together to collaboratively work through the fastest moving technological challenges facing society today” said Miriam Vogel, President and CEO of EqualAI. “This year’s focus on agentic AI made one thing clear: successful deployment is achievable, but only when anchored by governance that drives productivity and mitigates risk. It was a genuine pleasure to work alongside so many thoughtful, collaborative leaders whose perspectives and experience are essential as we collectively work to harness the power of agentic AI safely and effectively.”
The summit convened leaders from across industry and government to address the opportunities afforded and risks posed by agentic AI systems, defined as AI systems that can take autonomous, multi-step actions on behalf of users and organizations. Participants engaged in structured sessions covering workforce implications, governance frameworks, and real-world deployment challenges, with findings that will be presented in a white paper to be released in the coming weeks.
Across working sessions, executives agreed on a shared vision for agentic AI centered on greater productivity, enhanced security, and individual empowerment. The group also acknowledged that creating the governance structures to support effective and responsible agentic deployment must be unique and iterative to meet the greater capability of agents.
Data governance, consent frameworks, and human oversight surfaced as some of the most pressing unresolved barriers to agentic deployment. These findings were pressure-tested and reinforced by a workplace simulation intended to uncover systemic gaps in audit documentation, vendor contracts, and organizational cultures that prioritized technological advancement over necessary risk precautions.
Participants left with a clear consensus that opportunities for agentic deployment are nearly unlimited, but that governance structures to ensure safety and accountability are paramount to meet their aspirational goals. In addition, they agreed that closing governance gaps will require ongoing dialogue and cooperation between both leading developers and industry deployers, with support from civil society and government, to meet the technological imperatives of the moment.
“Under President Trump, the U.S. Department of Labor is working to position America as the global leader in AI,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “We were proud to participate in the EqualAI Summit and engage with leaders across industry and government on AI governance. Together, we will continue collaborating to bolster AI literacy to ensure American workers have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the age of AI.”
The summit is part of EqualAI’s broader mission to advance responsible AI governance through its Badge© Program, which has certified senior executives from Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Walmart, Google DeepMind, Priceline, Starbucks, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Medtronic, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, and others since launching in 2021.
For more information about EqualAI’s initiatives or to explore their Badge Program, visit EqualAI.org or reach out at [email protected].