On October 18, we attended the MIT AI Conference in Mountain View, California, a full-day gathering of more than 500 researchers, founders, engineers, and product leaders exploring the future of artificial intelligence. The “Empowering Humanity” theme was reflected across panels, presentations, and conversations throughout the day.
The event featured speakers from Adobe, Spotify, Business Insider, OpenAI, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Twitch, and many others—as well as professors from MIT and some of the fastest-moving robotics and AI startups in the country.
A few standout moments:
AI in Digital Experiences, Personalization, and Media
Featuring Barbara Peng, CEO, Business Insider; Ziad Sultan, VP of Personalization, Spotify; and Dr. Gavin S. P. Miller, Head of Research, Adobe. They covered how publications, entertainment, and creativity platforms are adapting to AI.
Dr. Miller’s points really resonated, especially when he shared a slide outlining three major GenAI challenges: Prompt Bias, Generation Fixation, and Diluted Inspiration. He referenced a 2023 study by BCG and university researchers that found working with AI tools can reduce a team’s diversity of thought by up to 41%.
AI in Action: From Code to Customer to Knowledge
Featuring Ramin Hasani, CEO, Liquid AI, discussing how research translates to real product value and how their models operate without cloud dependence, supporting privacy, broader accessibility, and the ability to bring advanced AI to more environments and geographies.
Robots: Beyond Imagination
Featuring Brad Porter, CEO & Founder, Collaborative Robotics, and Sophia Luo, Partner, Greylock.
This session ended with an innovative demo by the Collaborative Robotics team. One of their robots was tested on fall detection and could accurately distinguish between a staged fall and a real emergency. You could immediately see the real-world applications, from healthcare to safety on construction sites.
MIT AI Conference was energizing and inspiring. All aspects of the event, from the initial welcome to session flow, felt smooth and intentional. Networking opportunities were top tier, and organizers offered chai, coffee, and snacks to enjoy while engaging in forward-looking conversation with fellow attendees.
One of the most memorable parts of the day was the Founder Speed Dating session at Hahn Hall. The quality of conversations and ideas shared in a single hour was impressive, and the format allowed attendees to get involved in a meaningful way.
The roaming MITAI robot was surprisingly sharp and fun to interact with. There was also a great number of open-source API demos and hands-on tools available throughout the hall, which made the event even more engaging and helpful.
MIT AI Conference reinforced something we have been thinking a lot about—AI is moving fast, and with it comes a deeper need for human context, cultural intelligence, and intentional design. We likely weren’t the only attendees who left feeling inspired by the people in the room, the challenges discussed, and the reminder that thoughtful AI isn’t just possible—it’s necessary.
Thanks to MIT AI Conference for having us!
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