As artificial intelligence converges with other emerging technologies, the next wave of innovation could bring profound changes to how our world operates.
This webinar will explore a future in which the barriers to designing, manufacturing, and replicating sophisticated physical technologies continue to fall. As these capabilities become more accessible, counterfeit or modified components could become increasingly difficult to detect. That could challenge fundamental assumptions about where our technology comes from, what’s inside it, and whether it can be trusted. The implications could also extend across global supply chains, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, defence, and the technologies individuals and organizations rely on every day.
We’ll push some of these possibilities to their limits, using bold claims, unconventional scenarios, and informed conjecture to examine where the technology is heading, where the risks may be overstated, and what happens when the line between genuine and counterfeit technology becomes increasingly difficult to see.
What you will learn
In this free virtual session, you’ll explore:
- The next frontier of AI: How AI's convergence with advanced manufacturing, robotics, and microelectronics could transform the creation and replication of physical technologies.
- The changing nature of technology trust: Why increasingly sophisticated counterfeit or modified components could challenge traditional assumptions about authenticity and security.
- Implications for global systems: How these emerging capabilities could introduce new vulnerabilities across supply chains, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and defence.
- The future of hardware security: What happens when the distinction between genuine, replicated, and modified technologies becomes increasingly difficult to detect.
- Separating emerging risks from speculation: How to critically assess bold technological predictions, distinguish plausible threats from overstated risks, and consider their broader implications for organizations.
Meet your speakers
Dr. Sebastian Fischmeister
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo
Sebastian Fischmeister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and cross-appointed to the Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Fischmeister performs systems research at the intersection of software technology,
distributed systems, and formal methods. His preferred application area includes distributed
real-time embedded systems in the domain of automotive systems, avionics, and medical
devices. Key highlights of his research include a framework for scalable location-based
pervasive computing systems and tree communication schedules for verifiable but flexible
real-time communication. A slightly modified version of his real-time communication
framework has been used for the plug-and-play demonstration of medical devices and
to promote the ASTM F29.21 standard. He is now working on (a) information extraction
of time-sensitive systems, (b) using data analytics of extracted information for system
validation and security, (c) runtime monitoring of safety-critical systems, and (d)
reliable and robust performance evaluation of embedded systems.
Dr. Jimmy Lin
Professor and David R. Cheriton Chair, Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo | Co-Director, Waterloo.AI
Dr. Jimmy Lin is a Professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science, where he has held a prestigious David R. Cheriton Chair in Software Systems since 2015. His research develops tools that help people make sense of large amounts of data. He works at the intersection of information retrieval, natural language processing, and data management. A prolific researcher, he has produced a large body of work in top-tier venues with major contributions that have advanced the state of the art in information retrieval and natural language processing.
Professor Lin is also a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, a Fellow of the Association for Computational Linguistics, and a member of the SIGIR Academy.
Rob Barton
Distinguished AI Engineer, AI Software and Platform, Cisco
Rob Barton is a Cisco Distinguished AI Engineer with Cisco's AI Software Engineering Group. A graduate of the University of British Columbia in Engineering Physics, he has extensive expertise in networking, cybersecurity, and AI. Rob is the author of four books, including Demystifying Generative AI. He has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and holds over 400 patents in key areas such as network security, cloud networking, and AI/Machine Learning.
As the leader of Cisco's AI research collaboration program with top universities, Rob drives innovation at the intersection of academia and industry. In 2025, he was inducted into the Cisco Live Distinguished Speakers Hall of Fame Elite.
Is this webinar free?
Yes. This is a complimentary online webinar offered by WatSPEED at the University
of Waterloo.
Who should attend this webinar?
This session is designed for executives, business and technology leaders, policymakers,
cybersecurity and risk professionals, and individuals working in manufacturing, supply
chain management, critical infrastructure, and related fields. It is also relevant
to anyone interested in emerging technologies and their implications for security,
innovation, and society.
Do I need prior AI or technical experience?
No specialized technical expertise is required. The webinar will explore emerging
technological capabilities and their broader implications, with an emphasis on strategic
questions, potential risks, and future scenarios rather than technical implementation.
What will I learn in this session?
You'll explore how advances in AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and microelectronics
could make sophisticated hardware easier to create and replicate. The discussion will
examine emerging challenges around technology authenticity, supply chain security,
and trust, while distinguishing plausible risks from more speculative scenarios.
How could AI change the way physical technologies are created?
AI is already transforming software development. Its convergence with advanced manufacturing,
robotics, and microelectronics could similarly reduce barriers to designing, producing,
and replicating complex physical technologies, potentially changing how hardware is
developed and distributed.
Why could counterfeit hardware become a growing concern?
As sophisticated manufacturing and replication capabilities become more accessible,
distinguishing authentic components from counterfeit or modified alternatives could
become increasingly difficult. This raises important questions about product integrity,
security, and the reliability of technologies used by organizations and individuals.
What are the potential implications for global supply chains?
Increasingly sophisticated hardware replication could create new challenges for verifying
component origins, ensuring product authenticity, and maintaining confidence in global
supply chains. These developments may have implications for organizations that depend
on complex networks of manufacturers, suppliers, and technology providers.
How does hardware authenticity relate to cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity extends beyond software and digital systems to the physical components
that underpin them. Counterfeit or modified hardware could introduce vulnerabilities
that are difficult to identify, raising questions about how organizations assess and
manage technology-related risks.
Why does this topic matter for executive and business leaders?
Organizations increasingly depend on interconnected technologies and global supply
chains. Understanding how emerging capabilities could challenge hardware security,
technology trust, and infrastructure resilience can help leaders think critically
about future risks and the assumptions underlying their technology decisions.
Are these risks already happening, or are they hypothetical?
The webinar will examine both emerging technological developments and speculative
future scenarios. The discussion will explore what may become possible, where concerns
could be overstated, and which questions deserve closer attention.
How long is the webinar? The session will run for approximately 60 minutes, including time for audience Q&A.
How do I attend? After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access link prior to the event.