Originally from Ecuador, Amaru is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, including being named Best Director at Cannes Shorts. He is currently working at Griptape.ai as a Creative Director, where he is heavily involved in generative AI for digital content production. Formerly with AWS and Microsoft, he brings 18 years of experience in digital content, including virtual production, VFX, games, VR, XR, and 3D animation. With his second film, “Picchu,” Amaru pays tribute to his own culture and dedicates the film to all the children in the world.

Kellyn Dassler is an Austin-based artist, creative technologist, and software developer, who makes interactive installation art and visuals that incorporate machine learning and 3D for a creative code experience between the artwork and users. Recently, she has also expanded to making poetry and adapting this into many different algorithmic forms, such as p5 visualizations, interactive pieces, and 3D printed forms. Kellyn is particularly interested in translation and blending physical and digital worlds. She is also very interested in creating tools for artists to incorporate AI into their work.

Jason Fletcher is an artist based in Austin that works as a freelance motion designer. After receiving BFA in 3D animation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he went on to work at the Charles Hayden Planetarium for 12 years where he created immersive experiences. Operating under the “isosceles” moniker, he has a Patreon where creates visuals for VJ performers to use during their live concerts. Jason is always experimenting with the latest AI tools to create visuals for his various projects.

Jeff Wilson is a mixed digital media artist and technologist from Austin, TX. With a degree in sculpture from Syracuse University and a long career in IT, Jeff has been at at the forefront of the fine arts and technology worlds for more than 20 years, blending technology into his creative process and most recently incorporating Artificial Intelligence into his toolbelt. Jeff is interested in exploring the collaboration between human and machine while maintaining what is truly human in the arts.

Rick Kitagawa is a creativity coach and consultant who has worked with executives, founders, and creators from around the globe and Fortune 500 companies. He is also an award-winning visual artist and Amazon Best-Selling author. He currently leads Brainstorm Road, a community of creative people building their dream project in the midst of real life.

Carlissa Arrow is an Alabama raised, Boston-based product designer that works at the intersection of art, design, and technology. Carlissa studied Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University and recently completed her Masters in Design Engineering at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work experience has spanned across multiple industries from manufacturing to product development at some familiar places like Hasbro and P&G. Overtime, she has become a strong advocate for the “power of making” and its emotional, cognitive, and economic impact on local communities.

Alfredo Esposito is an international lawyer and global thought leader specializing in copyright, digital rights, and AI. He has an extensive resume of experience serving as advisor and privately assisting companies on international legal matters. In 2021, he established the law firm Difesa d’Autore offering specialized legal service on internet legal matters, and continues to share his expertise by contributing articles on legal, digital, and AI topics in various publications.

Shawn Shan is a researcher in the Computer Science Department at the University of Chicago, where he serves as Project Lead for Glaze, a tool designed to protect artists from generative AI mimicry. Shawn’s research focuses on on understanding fundamental limitations of AI systems and protecting people from malicious uses of AI. His work has been covered by media outlets such as the New York Times, BBC, NBC News, MIT Tech Review.

Jessica Paz found her voice as an artist at a young age by weaving her Salvadoran roots into her artistic expression. With a degree in Linguistics and Computer Science, she pursued a career in tech and served in the US Air Force as a specialist in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. As both an artist and specialist in AI/ML, Jessica is interested in how AI technologies are challenging assumptions about creativity and the role of artists.

Zach Beasley is a multi-media creative based in Austin who moonlights as a musician and visual artist. With a BFA in Design from UT-Austin, he works as a creative leader in the healthcare and media industries, producing content for small startups as well as Fortune 500 companies. He is interested in the ways AI technologies can be leveraged to improve our workflow and used as a brainstorming tool for creative ideas.