Local author, software engineer, and technology leader Todd Lefor will give a talk on “Why Imagination Wins in the Age of AI” at noon Wednesday, March 25, in the Centrum of Knutson Campus Center, Concordia College.
Attendees must RSVP, but the event is free, open to the community, and includes lunch. It will also be livestreamed via Zoom.
Lefor, who wrote “I Wonder if Stella Thinks About Me: Tesla, Minions, & Artificial Intelligence” in 2025, has 40 years of experience developing enterprise software systems for Fortune 500 companies, including the past 25 years at Microsoft, where he currently leads the privacy and accessibility efforts for the Business and Intelligence Copilot group at Microsoft.
His book explores AI with humor and storytelling, using everyday language and concepts easily accessible to people with little to no background in computer science.
Lefor believes that while AI can access more knowledge than any individual could, the future will not be defined by the people who know the most, but by those who imagine what is possible. As such, his talk will examine how imagination, curiosity, and creative thinking will shape the next era of technology, unpacking the promises, tensions, and human questions surrounding AI.
“By understanding and embracing AI, we can demystify its complexities and harness its potential to create a brighter future for all, the potential applications of AI promise to usher in a new age of prosperity and efficiency,” Lefor writes in “Stella,” encouraging people to embrace AI wholeheartedly as a tool for creativity, while retaining a “trust-but-verify” attitude.
Whether curious about emerging technologies or interested in how AI is reshaping the world, the lunch event promises fresh perspectives and meaningful dialogue.
Participants are asked to preregister at LorentzsenCenter.com. People who wish to attend virtually via Zoom may register there as well.
The Lorentzsen Center honors the life, work, and legacy of Norman M. Lorentzsen, philanthropist, former CEO of Burlington Northern, and alumnus of Concordia College. In honor of his legacy, the Lorentzsen Center takes up the question, “How do we build a more trustworthy world?”