Ashley René Casey
Founder, Presence Over Pixels
About
Ashley René is a speaker, strategist, and founder of Presence Over Pixels, a St. Louis–based company helping people take back control of their time, focus, and relationships in a tech-dominated world. With a background in corporate leadership and a passion for human connection, Ashley René teaches professionals how to set boundaries with their devices, stay present in high-demand environments, and lead with intention - online and off. Her work lives at the intersection of wellness, leadership, and digital culture, offering practical tools for anyone looking to thrive without burning out. When she's not leading workshops or speaking on stages, Ashley René is performing with her band, Bourbon Jury, and actively engaged in the local arts scene of St Louis.
Verify, Then Trust: Human Judgement in the Age of Generative AI
Description
Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of how modern organizations write, evaluate, and make decisions — from drafting content and summarizing data to supporting technical workflows.
As these systems become more fluent and convincing, the real challenge is no longer whether AI can produce outputs quickly, but whether humans maintain the skills of verification, discernment, and accountability alongside it.
Verify, Then Trust offers a grounded, human-centered framework for navigating AI without panic, blind faith, or outsourcing our thinking. This session explores why trust must be earned through validation, especially in environments where accuracy, clarity, and responsibility matter.
Rather than positioning AI as a threat or a replacement, this talk reframes it as a powerful tool that still requires human oversight. Attendees will learn practical habits for staying mentally present, asking better questions, and building norms that keep human judgment meaningfully in the loop.
This session is designed for technology professionals, leaders, and teams adapting to AI-enabled work who want to move forward with confidence — without losing critical thinking or responsibility in the process.
Key themes include:
- Speed vs. correctness in AI-generated outputs
- Why verification is becoming a core professional skill
- The risk of automation complacency
- Practical ways to keep humans accountable and engaged