Applied AI Speakers — Feature Profile
Michel Shane
Traffic Safety Advocate & Foundation Chair
“I produced blockbusters for Hollywood. Then tragedy struck — and I produced something far more important.”
— Michel Shane, Hollywood Producer & Foundation Chair
01 — The Human Story
From Hollywood
Blockbusters
to National Movement
Michel Shane produced two of Hollywood's most iconic films — i, Robot (Will Smith, 2004) and Catch Me If You Can (Spielberg & DiCaprio, 2002). He knows how to captivate an audience. But in 2011, his greatest production became a mission of purpose: co-founding The Emily Shane Foundation after his 13-year-old daughter was tragically killed on Pacific Coast Highway.
Backed by Johns Hopkins, the California DMV, and a Honda Foundation grant, his Empty Chair Club campaign has grown from a local LA effort to a federal-level conversation about empathy-based road safety messaging.
“From fear-based to empathy-based — and now AI-powered.”
Traffic Safety Advocacy
02 — The AI Application
Advocacy at Scale,
Powered by AI
John Chmela demonstrates how AI transforms passive awareness into active advocacy — turning Michel's 15 years of traffic safety expertise into scalable, community-driven tools. Through platforms like roadsafetywarrior.com, anyone can type their zip code and concern and instantly receive mapped reports, predictive hotspot insights, and personalized advocacy kits.
This tandem presentation shows how AI amplifies The Empty Chair Club's reach, helps foundations scale impact without adding staff, and turns grief into an army of road safety warriors equipped with data-driven tools.
Key Topics
- 01AI-powered community advocacy and mobilization tools
- 02Predictive modeling for traffic safety hotspot identification
- 03Scaling foundation impact through automated personalization
- 04Transforming empathy-based messaging into measurable action
- 05Adaptive learning pathways for driver behavior change
03 — Ideal For
Who Should
Book This Talk
Traffic safety conferences, foundation leadership summits, public health organizations, automotive industry events, AI for social impact forums, driver education programs, community advocacy training
Traffic Safety
Conferences & advocacy orgs
Public Health
Foundations & health orgs
AI for Good
Social impact forums
Driver Education
DMV & school programs
04 — The Tandem Partnership
Two Voices.
One Unforgettable Keynote.
Michel Shane
Traffic Safety Advocate & Foundation Chair
John Chmela
Certified AI Strategist & Applied AI Expert
John brings certified, battle-tested AI expertise to every engagement — no hype, no jargon. Just actionable intelligence on AI Ethics, governance, and the practical tools reshaping every industry.
AI Ethics • AI-Jacking Methodology • Governance