PANEL DISCUSSION
Ray Dableh, JDRF Electromag
Location: Sutton South
Tuesday, April 13, 2027
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET
Credits TBA
Introductory
Lighting control systems have existed for decades, but mainstream adoption has been constrained less by capability than by deployment challenges and cost. Commissioning—the process of programming zones, configuring sensors, mapping fixtures, and tuning system behavior to a specific space—remains a manual, labor-intensive process requiring specialized technicians, extended timelines, and significant cost.
This has kept advanced lighting control largely confined to high-end or flagship projects, rather than becoming a default standard.
AI is fundamentally changing that equation. Rather than relying on pre-programmed logic and manual configuration, AI-powered systems can autonomously sense, respond, and adapt to the built environment in real time—learning occupancy patterns, daylight conditions, and space usage without requiring human-driven setup or ongoing manual adjustment, eliminating the most resource-intensive barrier to adoption.
This session examines the technical shift from legacy-based control systems to AI-driven lighting control architecture, how automated commissioning works at a systems level, and what this evolution means for scaling smart lighting from a niche premium offering into a mainstream, cost-effective standard across the built environment.
No prerequisite knowledge; however, a background in lighting control is helpful.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the limitations of legacy lighting control systems, including why manual commissioning has historically constrained mainstream adoption of smart lighting.
- Distinguish genuine AI-powered control systems from conventional automation marketed as “smart,” by identifying the core technical requirements that define true AI functionality in a physical building system.
- Compare AI-driven architectures to legacy lighting control systems, including the role of localization technologies for sensing capabilities, and machine learning and edge computing for real-time data processing in autonomous building environments.
- Assess the real-world performance of AI-powered lighting systems and the broader implications for the industry as smart lighting moves toward mainstream adoption.
Speaker
Ray Dableh
JDRF Electromag
Ray Dableh is a pioneer in lighting control technology with over two decades of experience transforming how buildings implement smart lighting.
After studying Electrical Engineering at McMaster University, Ray founded Fifth Light Technologies right out of school — the first digital lighting control company of its kind — building it into an industry leader before its acquisition by Cooper Industries in 2012.
Following the sale, Ray spent five years in intensive research and development, tackling one of the industry's most persistent barriers: the cost and complexity of lighting control commissioning.
That work led to the founding of JDRF Electromag's Autonomy Lighting Controls, the world's first AI-powered lighting control system that fully automates the commissioning process. By removing the human bottleneck that has long made smart lighting expensive and difficult to deploy, Autonomy Lighting is making commercial smart lighting accessible at scale.
A serial innovator and entrepreneur, Ray brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and hands-on founder experience to conversations about the future of smart buildings, AI-driven automation, and the next generation of lighting technology.