In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, labor markets, and communities at an unprecedented pace, the question of who benefits—and who gets left behind—has never been more urgent.

At the forefront of this challenge stands Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, who brings a unique combination of legal expertise, executive experience, and deep community roots to the mission of ensuring AI becomes a force for equity rather than exclusion.

On the latest episode of the AI in Chicago Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Elena Vekilov, Chief Privacy Officer and Global General Counsel for Data Security, Product, and AI at NielsenIQ. With responsibility for privacy governance across more than 90 markets, Elena sits at an intersection few executives occupy: where data protection, product innovation, and AI governance collide at a global scale.

Our conversation crystallized an insight that every leader racing to implement AI should absorb: People don't resist technology. They resist ambiguity.

Elena reserves particular passion for redefining legal's role in AI adoption. "If your legal team is known as the Department of No, you're doing something wrong," she states bluntly.

The alternative is embedding legal into the product development process from the start – not as a final rubber stamp but as a navigation tool. "Think of legal not as a roadblock, but as a GPS: helping the organization reach its goals without unexpected detours or collisions."

Illinois just made history. In August 2025, Governor Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, and the first law in the nation (possibly the world) to regulate AI in mental healthcare.

In this episode, we sit down with State Representative Bob Morgan, Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip' within the IL House Chamber, the architect of the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act to understand how Illinois moved from concept to law in just nine months, what the legislation actually does (and doesn't do), and why this matters far beyond state borders.

Rep. Morgan brings a unique perspective as both a healthcare attorney with decades of experience and a state legislator navigating the complex intersection of innovation, safety, and regulation. From his work implementing the Affordable Care Act to managing Illinois's Ebola response, he's seen firsthand how technology and healthcare policy collide.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• What prompted the urgent need for AI mental health regulation
• How the law protects patients without stifling healthcare innovation
• Why licensed professionals can still use AI to augment their practice
• The political dynamics of passing first-in-the-nation tech legislation
• What other states are learning from Illinois's model
• Where AI regulation is headed next
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Whether you're a healthcare provider, tech builder, policy professional, or simply concerned about AI's role in mental health, this conversation offers rare insight into how thoughtful regulation is actually developed.

Guest: Rep. Bob Morgan, Illinois State Representative (58th District), Partner at Benishlaw, former General Counsel for Illinois Department of Public Health

Host: Khullani Abdullahi, Founder of Techne AI

Listen now to understand the policy framework that may shape AI healthcare regulation across America.