The Blockchain Kill Switch: Can We Still Control AI?
Join Karen Kilroy, author of Blockchain Tethered AI (O’Reilly), for a live conversation with Beni Beeri Issembert, a leading voice in AI ethics and governance. Hosted by Jean-Georges Perrin, author of Implementing Data Mesh (O’Reilly), this episode explores why the next frontier of AI isn’t just innovation—it’s control, transparency, and human responsibility.
Date: January 27, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:00 PM CET | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM EST
Format: Live Webinar (with audience Q&A)
Register Now!
This is Episode 5 of Data, Explored, Actian’s webinar series spotlighting real conversations about the future of data, governance, and AI.
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About the Webinar
AI is powerful—but without control, it becomes unpredictable. In this episode of Data, Explored, we dig into a timely question: How do we keep humans in charge of AI?
Karen Kilroy, author of Blockchain Tethered AI (O’Reilly), will present a compelling answer: tether AI to the blockchain to ensure permanent provenance, responsible behavior, and verifiable accountability. Using blockchain as a foundation, she explores how content credentials, smart contracts, and tamper-evident ledgers can be used to govern AI safely and pragmatically.
Then, Beni Beeri Issembert will join the conversation to explore how these ideas apply to AI-generated media. Known for his work in the film industry and with C2PA, Beni brings a unique perspective on using blockchain to verify authenticity and trace synthetic content.
Together with host Jean-Georges Perrin, they will explore:
- Why today’s AI needs guardrails, and what those could look like
- How blockchain tethering works in practice
- What content credentials and provenance mean for AI trustworthiness
- Why transparency and traceability are critical in media, public safety, and education
- How to make AI work for society, not the other way around
Who Should Attend?
This webinar is ideal for anyone working at the intersection of AI, ethics, content provenance, or governance:
- AI and ML platform architects
- Data and enterprise governance leaders
- Public sector technologists and regulators
- Media and content authentication professionals
- Blockchain, MLOps, and AI observability practitioners
- Anyone curious about making AI traceable and accountable
Featured Speakers
Karen Kilroy
CEO, NYX NoCode and O’Reilly Author
Karen Kilroy is a full-stack AI application engineer, a six-time IBM Champion, and author of four O’Reilly books: Blockchain as a Service (2019), AI and the Law (2021), Blockchain Tethered AI (2023), and Natural Language and Search (2024). She is the creator of NYX NoCode, an innovative platform that makes AI and web development accessible through prompts and doodles. NYX NoCode has been featured on NPR for its school district no-code hackathons. Karen has been recognized for her ability to translate emerging technologies into practical, inclusive tools—winning the IBM Watson Build Challenge in 2017, completing advanced AI fluency training with Anthropic, and serving as Co-Chair of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) AI/ML Task Force.
Jean-Georges Perrin
Senior Product Manager, Actian and Author
Jean-Georges Perrin (“JGP”) is a Senior Product Manager at Actian, where he leads strategic initiatives around Data Products and Data Contracts. With more than 25 years of experience in data architecture, engineering, and product development, he focuses on building systems that strike the right balance between governance, usability, and innovation. JGP is also the author of Implementing Data Mesh (O’Reilly) and Spark in Action (Manning), and chairs the Linux Foundation’s Bitol project, where he helps drive industry standards like the Open Data Contract Standard (ODCS). His work has earned him recognition as a Lifetime IBM Champion, PayPal Champion, and Data Mesh MVP.
Guest Panelist
Beni Beeri Issembert
VP of Trust and Data Governance, Brahma
Beni Beeri Issembert is a French-Israeli executive in Data Governance and AI Ethics, dedicated to building transparent, accountable, and human-centered technological ecosystems. His work integrates philosophical depth with practical governance frameworks, guiding organizations toward responsible data use and ethical AI design rooted in trust, consent, and societal benefit.
