Speakers

LaVonne Roberts serves as CEO of Scott-Morgan Foundation USA, continuing the rebellious vision of Dr. Peter Scott-Morgan to democratize assistive technology by dismantling the silos and monopolies that keep life-changing innovations locked away in expensive, proprietary devices. As the world's leading charitable research body dedicated to rewriting the future of disability, the foundation operates on Peter's core conviction: disability barriers are engineering problems to be solved.

The foundation codesigns human-centric AI solutions with people living with severe communication and mobility disabilities, transforming assistive technology from fragmented, proprietary systems into open, interconnected ecosystems. Their breakthrough ambient listening technology exemplifies this philosophy—developed by technologist-in-residence Bernard Muller, a Dutch entrepreneur living with ALS who designed the multi-agentic solution using only eye-tracking technology. Roberts has forged strategic partnerships with major corporations, including Lenovo, ElevenLabs, and D-ID, as well as academic institutions such as Tecnológico de Monterrey, and advocacy organizations like the Young AI Leaders Mexico City Hub, all leveraging NVIDIA technologies to scale solutions for those who need them most.

This ambient listening technology represents a multi-agentic AI solution that continuously monitors conversations and eliminates communication gaps through real-time response generation, restoring natural conversation and authentic self-expression. Currently being tested with people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Mexico, this technology demonstrates how designing for the most complex human needs creates solutions that benefit all 500 million people worldwide living with communication and mobility disabilities.

Roberts bridges four often disconnected ecosystems: academic research, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and disability advocacy. Her writing for The New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, TIME, CNN, and Wired has shaped public policy, informed accessible design practices, and is taught in university curricula worldwide. As a technology entrepreneur who co-founded one of the internet's first unicorns, she brings practical experience in scaling transformative solutions and identifying true innovation.

Her ultimate vision aligns with the foundation's core conviction: while technology makes life easier for most, it makes life possible for those living with disabilities, restoring the ability to connect, communicate, and contribute. Through open innovation and interoperable platforms, Roberts is building toward a future where every device comes equipped with comprehensive accessibility features and users control their technology choices rather than being controlled by vendor limitations. For Roberts, this work is about ensuring that the AI revolution amplifies every human voice, especially those that have been silenced.