Understanding AI: What It Means, Where It’s Going, and How We Shape It
A dynamic, two-day virtual AI Summit for the general public to hear from leading experts about the latest AI developments, gain a clearer understanding of what these changes mean, and learn how we can leverage these tools in our everyday lives. This event is free, open to all, and designed to make AI approachable and relevant for you.
About the Summit
Are you intrigued by AI but overwhelmed by the hype, terminology, and rapid changes surrounding it? Do you wonder how this powerful technology will affect your life, or how you can have a say in its future? The Public AI Summit is an opportunity to learn, explore, and talk about AI with community members! Our goal is to equip everyone, whether you’re a curious beginner or a frequent user, to better understand and participate in the direction of AI. We’ll present hands-on workshops and accessible talks from experts about the current state of AI, what we’ve learned about it so far, and how to prepare for what might come next.
The Summit will take place over two days between August 13-14, 2025. On Day 1, you will hear keynote talks from AI experts Arvind Narayanan, Kathy Pham, Anna Mills, and Maha Bali, who will break down what’s happening in AI today and answer big questions like: Why are people so obsessed with AI? Where and how is our data being used? What can we learn from teachers who carry the responsibility of preparing the next generation? On Day 2, you’ll dive deeper into these topics through a range of interactive workshops and gain hands-on experience by exploring tools, techniques, risk mitigation strategies, policies, and more.
The Summit is open to the public and free to attend!
Organizing Team
Aug 13, 2025 (12:00–3:00 PM)
Keynotes
On Day 1 of the Summit, hear relatable and accessible presentations from experts in the field of AI. Each talk covers one of the Summit’s main topics: what AI is, how it affects us, and what we can do about it. Each presentation will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Sarah Newman & Kasia Chmielinski.
What is AI? AI as Normal Technology
There’s so much hype and confusion about AI. In this talk, leading AI scholar Arvind Narayanan will explore artificial intelligence as a “normal technology,” challenging extreme utopian and dystopian visions that treat AI as an all-powerful machine that’s smarter than humans. He will discuss the possible impacts of advanced AI, why these changes will likely unfold slowly, and what that means for society. Designed for a public audience, this talk will also distinguish between AI methods, applications, and adoption, helping everyone leave with new insights, fresh perspectives, and perhaps even a shift in their current beliefs about AI’s role in our world.
How Does AI Affect Us? The Past, Present, and Future
Even before the term “Artificial Intelligence” was officially coined in the 1950s, the ideas behind it were already taking shape. Since then, AI has steadily made its way into different parts of our lives, from our daily routines to the ways we interact and stay connected. Within just the last three years, breakthroughs in generative AI and agentic AI have rapidly accelerated this transformation, embedding AI even deeper into how we live, spend time with each other, and experience the world. In this keynote, we’ll dive into the origins of AI, how it has evolved over time, and what our shared future might look like as AI continues to advance.
What Can We Do About (and With) AI? Education as a Case Study
When generative AI first emerged, educators responded by forming collaborative networks, sharing resources, and creating spaces for critical discussion. This talk explores how these communities have shaped AI implementation through collective learning and peer support, recognizing that the existence of generative AI has an emotional impact on educators and also offers an opportunity for self-reflection on philosophies, values, and meaningful learning. We’ll examine how educators balance practical experimentation with critical analysis, teaching both with and about AI while addressing issues of bias, access, and labor. The session demonstrates how professionals in any discipline can approach new technologies democratically by building on existing networks, prioritizing community knowledge over corporate narratives, and ensuring that those most affected by AI participate in shaping its use.
Aug 14, 2025 (1:00–3:30 PM)
Workshops
On Day 2 of the Summit, join small, interactive workshops on topics such as dataset transparency, data use for community-based organizations, training data annotation, AI policies, AI images, interpersonal relationships with AI, AI and creativity, and more to come!
Schedule
Keynotes (12:00–3:00 PM on August 13, 2025)
| Time (ET) | Title | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00–12:15 PM | Opening Remarks | Sarah Newman, Kasia Chmielinski |
| 12:15–1:00 PM | Keynote: What is AI? AI as Normal Technology | Arvind Narayanan |
| 1:00–1:45 PM | Keynote: How Does AI Affect Us? The Past, Present, and Future | Kathy Pham |
| 1:45–2:00 PM | Break | |
| 2:00–2:45 PM | Keynote: What Can We Do About (and With) AI? Education as a Case Study | Maha Bali, Anna Mills |
| 2:45–3:00 PM | Closing Remarks | Sarah Newman, Kasia Chmielinski |
Workshops (1:00–3:30 PM on August 14, 2025)
| Time (ET) | Title | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00–1:15 PM | Opening Remarks & Workshop Introductions | Sarah Newman, Kasia Chmielinski |
| 1:15–2:00 PM | Workshop Session 1 | Workshop Facilitators |
| 2:00–2:15 PM | Session 1 Reflections & Workshop Introductions | Sarah Newman, Kasia Chmielinski |
| 2:15–3:00 PM | Workshop Session 2 | Workshop Facilitators |
| 3:00–3:30 PM | Session 2 Reflections & Closing Remarks | Sarah Newman, Kasia Chmielinski |
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