Jacob Smith
Jacob Smith is an Innovation Advisor and the Digital Lead within the Innovation Advisors group at RTI International, specializing in the integration of generative AI to streamline workflows, optimize business processes, and enhance strategic decision-making. As RTI Innovation Advisor's lead expert on AI adoption, he combines years of experience in technical innovation and strategic consulting with a deep understanding of AI-powered digital transformation strategies and human-centered design to help Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and small businesses identify opportunities where AI can drive efficiency and unlock innovation pathways. He leads initiatives to embed artificial intelligence into internal operations, developing AI-enabled frameworks to enhance project execution, improve cross-functional collaboration, and accelerate business development. His work includes augmenting and automating complex workflows and identifying scalable AI-driven solutions that balance innovation with operational feasibility, empowering organizations to harness AI’s potential while managing risks and aligning teams around its adoption. Jacob has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Tuesday June 24
Joint Antimicrobial & Cleaning Products Division Program
Innovation with Care: Data, AI, and the Future of Safer Cleaning and Floor Care Products
Innovation thrives on good data and thoughtful execution. This session will explore how organizations can embrace cutting-edge tools – like generative AI – while also staying grounded in safety, ethics, and real-world impact. The session will begin with insights from a veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, where pet exposure data reveals unexpected risks tied to household products and guides safer product development. Then, we will zoom out to examine how generative AI can amplify this kind of data-driven innovation – accelerating insight generation, reducing time to market, and identifying risk before it reaches consumers. Drawing on case studies, including pet safety data used in cleaning product formulation, this session will explore how gen AI adoption is less about technology and more about the thoughtful use of knowledge – both human and machine – to drive safer, smarter outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand how toxicology data helps shape safer consumer products.
- Learn practical ways to adopt gen AI to improve collaboration, speed, and insight.
- See how AI can augment—not replace—human expertise in risk management.
- Explore what responsible innovation looks like at the intersection of data, safety, and technology.
Speakers:
- Ahna Brutlag, Vice President of Veterinary Services and Partner, SafetyCall International & Poison Helpline
- Jacob Smith, Innovation Advisor and Digital Lead, RTI International