BASE Conference 2024: Scaling with Values
Held at the Social Impact Factory in Amsterdam, BASE Conference 2024 brought together thought leaders, founders, and change-makers to explore how values-driven innovation can shape the future of business and technology.
Themed “Connect, Collaborate & Scale”, the event’s Elevate Pillar featured a standout panel:
“How to Implement AI for Small Businesses While Staying True to Values”.
Watch the Full Conference Recording
Panel Discussion: Leveling the Digital Playing Field
Panelists:
- Katherine Elizabeth Bustos Rodas – Tech Ethicist & AI Policy Advisor
- Luca Berton – Technology Expert & Content Creator
- Max Van Riel – Co-founder, Struck.Build
- Sebastian Owen – CEO & Founder, StoneCircle AI
Moderator: Anna Żołądkiewicz – Conscious Leadership Coach, Anna G. Coaching
📍 October 25, 2024 | 16:50–17:35 | BASE Conference, Amsterdam
Panel Focus Areas
The conversation centered around ethical and practical AI implementation for SMEs, with opening questions like:
- How can small businesses compete with AI-powered tech giants?
- What role should policymakers play in avoiding AI monopolies?
- How can ethical AI be a competitive advantage for smaller players?
- What advice helps businesses turn AI from a concept into real value?
Key Discussion Themes:
- Levelling the Digital Playing Field: How SMEs can compete without falling for AI “snake oil”
- Niche Markets & Specialization: Using AI to outmaneuver larger competitors
- Ethical AI as a Differentiator: Building trust and transparency into your product
- Future-Proofing: Upskilling, adaptability, and long-term values alignment
Highlights from Each Panelist
- Katherine Bustos: Stressed the importance of inclusive, ethical AI frameworks, even for resource-limited SMEs
- Luca Berton: Demonstrated how tools like ChatGPT and Ansible enable small teams to scale operations while staying human-centered
- Max Van Riel: Shared how AI can automate compliance with building regulations while maintaining transparency
- Sebastian Owen: Emphasized strategy, advising SMEs to future-proof AI adoption with governance, innovation, and integrity
Panel Format (45 minutes)
- Welcome & Framing the Discussion – AI for SMEs: potential and pitfalls
- Panelist Introductions – Showcasing each speaker’s perspective
- What is an SME? – Framing the context: fewer than 250 employees, resource constraints, big ambitions
- Opening Question:
“What’s the biggest challenge SMEs face when implementing AI while staying true to their values?” - Deep-Dive Questions:
Each speaker addressed real-world concerns about ethics, automation, trust, and adaptability - Audience Q&A – Lively interactions on implementation barriers and transparency
- Closing Reflections – How to take AI from conceptual to actionable, without compromising values
Why It Mattered
BASE Conference 2024 proved that ethical, open innovation isn’t just for large enterprises. From empowering builders with automation to embedding transparency in AI tools, the panel made it clear:
➡️ SMEs can lead the AI revolution by staying true to what matters most.
👉 Learn more about the event
👉 Official Eventbrite Page
