As AI systems grow in autonomy and complexity, the role of human oversight is more critical than ever. In this session, Rakia Finley—CEO of Copper & Vine Studio and CTO of SökerData—makes the case for “human-in-the-loop” design as both a moral imperative and a systems engineering advantage. She shares how the most effective AI ecosystems aren’t fully autonomous—they’re co-designed with people at the core.

Drawing from 20+ years of building human-centered technology for governments, global health orgs, and startups, Rakia outlines how human empathy, intuition, and context must be integrated into AI pipelines—from training and validation to deployment and accountability. With practical takeaways and proven frameworks, this session will challenge technologists to think beyond automation and build AI systems that adapt to people—not the other way around.

What You’ll Learn:
- What “human-in-the-loop” means beyond compliance—and how to architect it
- Where and when human oversight strengthens AI outcomes
- Case studies from real-world AI systems in health, gov, and social sectors
- How to build multidisciplinary teams that center empathy and accountability
- Why people-centric AI drives better product design, trust, and resilience