When Matt Alario ’02 was a student at Blair, seated in what is now the DuBois Theatre, little did he know how vastly the world’s information landscape would change. Not only would a digital revolution take place, but within two decades, artificial intelligence (AI) would dominate the technological space. On Tuesday, April 14, Mr. Alario returns to the hilltop to address a generation of students who aren’t just “future users” of artificial intelligence, but current citizens who already live within its architecture.

During his Society of Skeptics lecture, Mr. Alario will recall his professional journey, from dabbling in various industries, such as being a Summer camp director, to setting up roots building computer vision solutions for Red Bull and combating global disinformation with NATO. Currently working at Exorde Labs, he sits at the forefront of building the data infrastructure that powers serious AI applications. But, before he dives into his many accolades, he plans on emphasizing the non-linear path it took for him to get to where he is today. 

“At Blair, I was on the soccer, swimming and lacrosse teams; I was a prefect in South Cottage and participated in Model UN. What I can tell you is that I did not have a clear professional vision when I was there—not even close. What Blair gave me wasn’t a career path; it was a way of operating. The idea that how you do something matters as much as what you produce,” he shared in a pre-event interview. 

“I think Blair has always understood a principle that I recently observed in Frederick Law Olmsted’s writing—the art of producing genuine work ethic and character. The extracurriculars at Blair mattered, but not because they built a résumé. They built discipline, team orientation and a willingness to take on responsibility before you feel fully ready. That turned out to be the actual preparation.”

After graduating from Blair, Mr. Alario went on to study political science at Drew University. Coincidentally, while running a summer camp in suburban Philadelphia one year, he met his wife, which he counts as the “most important thing that happened” to him both professionally and personally as “the people you meet along the way matter more than the plan.”

From camp, Mr. Alario moved through a few early-stage tech companies—digital advertising, a loyalty rewards startup, healthcare scheduling—and in each role, he was subconsciously learning the same thing about himself: He was good at taking complicated, early-stage technology, understanding it deeply and helping organizations see why they needed it. That skill eventually carried him into AI, cyber threat intelligence and data infrastructure. 

“None of it was planned,” he reiterated. 

“My advice to students who don’t know what they want yet: That’s fine. Build the transferable skills—the ability to ask good questions, understand complex systems and communicate clearly. That will carry you into careers that don’t even exist yet.”

All are welcome to hear Mr. Alario speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

History of Skeptics

The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.