The Horizon Search Institute launched its inaugural AI governance salon in New York, gathering leaders from various sectors to discuss the future of artificial intelligence oversight.
The Horizon Search Institute (HSI) officially launched its first salon series on Tuesday night in Manhattan, New York City. This event convened senior figures from finance, healthcare, law, venture capital, government, academia, and international organizations to tackle a critical question: how to govern artificial intelligence in highly regulated industries.
Held at the historic House of the Redeemer, the invitation-only gathering brought together fourteen leaders for a private dinner and moderated discussion. The focus was on the increasing role of AI in shaping decision-making, managing risk, and redefining accountability across sectors where oversight and public trust are essential.
The event also marked the public introduction of HSI’s first major research publication under its Responsible AI initiative, titled “Horizon Scan 001: AI Governance in Regulated Industries.” This report investigates how organizations in financial services and healthcare are shifting from traditional approval-based oversight models to continuous monitoring and lifecycle accountability for AI systems.
Ashwin Telang, one of the report’s lead authors, presented key findings from the research, which sparked discussions among participants informed by both the Horizon Scan and the Institute’s inaugural Research Brief.
The evening began with remarks from Ramu Damodaran, a veteran United Nations leader who played a pivotal role in establishing the UN Academic Impact initiative and previously served as editor-in-chief of the UN Chronicle. Abdullah Ishak Khan, HSI’s inaugural Global Fellow and deputy director at the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority under the Prime Minister’s Office, also addressed the gathering, highlighting emerging opportunities for the next generation of governance researchers.
David Lovejoy, Executive Director of HSI, delivered closing remarks emphasizing the importance of viewing governance as a strategic capability rather than merely a regulatory obligation.
Throughout the discussion, participants revisited three core issues shaping the future of AI oversight. The first issue revolved around financial services, where institutions are adapting governance frameworks originally developed under the Federal Reserve’s SR 11-7 model risk management guidance. This adaptation is necessary to address the challenges posed by increasingly autonomous AI systems that can evolve between review cycles.
The second issue focused on healthcare, where leaders debated the ethical challenges of deploying AI in patient care and policy settings. Key questions included who ultimately benefits from algorithmic decision-making and how accountability should be assigned in these contexts.
The third theme examined transparency and trust. Participants discussed what meaningful transparency should entail when employees, patients, and customers are expected to rely on AI-generated decisions that may not be fully visible or easily challenged.
“Oversight used to end at approval. It now begins there. The institutions that grasp that early won’t simply be compliant — they’ll be ahead. That is what it means to treat governance as a source of advantage rather than compliance theatre,” Lovejoy stated.
According to HSI, the newly released report spans approximately 8,200 words and draws on fifty sources across healthcare and financial services. Authored by Cynthia Chen and Ashwin Telang, with contributions from Hernando Liu and Gloria Chen and editing by David Lovejoy, the study argues that industries with historically different regulatory approaches are increasingly converging on a common expectation: AI systems require ongoing oversight throughout their operational lifecycle rather than a one-time approval process before deployment.
Founded as an independent nonprofit research institute, HSI focuses on the broader institutional implications of the AI transition. This includes how governance, accountability, and human judgment must evolve as advanced technologies become embedded in critical sectors. Its research agenda encompasses Responsible AI, Human Performance, Planetary Futures, and Governance & Diplomacy.
HSI noted that the Manhattan gathering marks the beginning of a broader salon series aimed at fostering direct conversations among policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and practitioners. The institute plans to continue these discussions, with its next salon scheduled to take place in London later this year.
According to The American Bazaar, the event signifies a pivotal step in addressing the complexities of AI governance in regulated industries.