Page Updated Jan. 19, 2025

ANP Conference Series & RVML Present: 

Approaching AI Summit

March 21-22, 2025 

Save $20 – $75 by Feb. 4 • GET TICKETS

Southern Oregon University • Ashland, OR

5 Panels • 20 Presenters • 10+ Exhibitors

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The 2025 Approaching AI Summit is a pivotal event designed to inspire community discussions about the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into our lives. The Summit brings together thought leaders and community participants to examine the far-reaching implications of AI in this transformative era.

Distinct from a technology conference, this info-packed, in-person event examines AI’s broader sociological effects while exploring and evaluating its future impacts. In addition to demonstrating the advancements in AI, the presenters examine the mind-blowing implications that the advent of AI brings to us all.

AI is Already Here: Just 150 years ago, the telegraph exemplified ultramodern communications technology. Today, nearly 17 billion mobile devices connect the globe. The launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT was just two years ago, and over the last several years, AI has evolved at an extraordinary pace surpassing many expert predictions.

The rapid development of AI technologies brings transformative opportunities combined with critical challenges. From medical diagnostics and environmental rehabilitation to deepfakes and propaganda campaigns, AI is rapidly reshaping the landscape of human experience. Understanding its breadth and navigating its impacts are emerging essential skills for individuals, organizations, and communities alike.

Five Expert Panels Examining AI’s Impacts:

• • Creating with AI in Industry: How AI has unleashed transformative creativity in commerce, education, and institutions.
  • Creating with AI in Culture: How AI in art and media extends creative potential and pushes the boundaries of art.
  • Learning with AI: How AI enhances education and training through adaptive learning technologies and augmented reality.
  • Working with AI: How AI transforms workplace roles, economics, fair competition, efficiency, and labor replacement.
  • Living with AI: How AI impacts real lives and requires honest discussions on ethics and safety. Includes audience participation.

An Event Designed to Educate, Engage, and Empower Communities

 20 Diverse Panelists: Learn from and engage with distinguished community leaders, policymakers, and innovative thinkers:

Rep. Pam Marsh: Oregon State Representative, District 5
Aaron Moffatt: Filmmaker, Technology Educator
Thor Muller: AI Strategist and Tech Startup Consultant
Cynthia Salbato: Storyteller and Community Builder
Heather Stafford: Business Developer, Rogue Workforce
Marta Tarantsey: Business Developer, Business Oregon
Teighe Thorsen: Media Innovator and AI Ethics Advocate
Randy Weber, Ed.D: President, Rogue Community College

MORE PANELISTS TBA

Approaching AI: Getting Ahead of the Fast-Coming Changes

• Survey the Landscape: Discover the scope of AI’s impact on virtually every area of life and society.
• Plot a Course: Strategize how to harness AI’s beneficial potential.
• Spot the Pitfalls: Learn to vigilantly identify and mitigate the personal and societal risks with proactive safety protocols.
• Engage with Experts: Community and industry leaders exploring the incredible possibilities and the concerning challenges.
• Keep Pace: Develop the acuity to distinguish and evaluate AI-generated content.
• Get Actionable Insights: Learn to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world confidently.
• Continue the Journey: Schedule & Locations TBA Take a deeper dive into AI topics in a week of AI learning events and workshops following the Summit.

The Possibilities, the Challenges, and the Future of Human-AI Coexistence

Produced by Architects of the New Paradigm Conference Series & RVML Resource Center

Presenters & Panelists:

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Dr. Rick Bailey
SOU.edu

President Richard J. Bailey, Jr. became Southern Oregon University’s president in 2022 after revitalizing Northern New Mexico College as its leader. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and command pilot with over 3,500 flying hours, he brings a robust academic background, including degrees in engineering sciences, international affairs, and government. At SOU, he spearheaded the collaborative “SOU Forward” initiative, resolving a $13 million budget shortfall and fostering data-sharing partnerships that led to record enrollment growth.

Micah BlackLight
ArtOfMicah.com

Micah BlackLight is a multi-media, multi-dimensional artist with wide-ranging passions. He is a writer, speaker, coach, visual artist, and MC proficient in a myriad of mediums such as visual, graphic, and audible. Micah is determined to create and hold safe containers for provocative thought that blaze trails of empowering, inspiring experiences.

NishaBurton
NishaBurton.com

Nisha Burton is a filmmaker, VR/AR/AI specialist, and digital artist with 12+ years of experience blending storytelling and technology. Nisha‘s body of work includes award-winning films, transmedia marketing campaigns, and fully interactive narrative-based immersive VR/AR experiences. Her work focuses on inspiring action toward inclusivity and cultural change.

Adam M. Curry
bluon.com

Adam M. Curry is an inventor and tech entrepreneur who grew up in the consciousness research community. He’s worked at Princeton’s PEAR lab, Psyleron, and most recently at BLUON. He founded ENTANGLED: a mobile app based on the Global Consciousness Project. Adam was awarded the MIT Ceres Connection Prize at 17, for an invention that converted electro-gravitational phenomena into signals that help forecast seismic events, such as earthquakes. He’s been featured on “Through the Wormhole” with Morgan Freeman, The Huffington Post, and numerous documentaries.

Daniel DeFreez, PhD
SOU CS Dept.

Dr. Daniel DeFreez joined the Southern Oregon University faculty in 2019, where he has been teaching AI Engineering since 2021. He has published in top-tier software engineering conferences and has developed analysis tools that have found hundreds of bugs in open-source software. His work focuses on preparing students for an AI-transformed landscape – one where we have achieved what was once purely science fiction: textbooks that can explain themselves. He received his PhD in Computer Science from UC Davis in 2019, MS in Computer Science from Southern Oregon University in 2012, and BS in Sociology from the University of Oregon in 2006.

Dr. Kim Freeze
soredi.org

Dr. Kim Freeze is a serial entrepreneur, psychology professor, clinical psychologist and ecosystem builder dedicated to empowering individuals and communities. A passionate advocate for the entrepreneurial mindset, she inspires innovation and resilience in students and professionals alike. With a deep commitment to mental health and wellness, Kim leverages cutting-edge AI solutions to support neurodivergent individuals and those facing mental health challenges, helping them unlock creativity and harness their unique strengths.

Ron Gandiza
Linkedin

Ron Gandiza: With over 28 years at the forefront of technology and innovation, Ron has dedicated his career to driving success in organizations like Microsoft, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the US Air Force through cutting-edge solutions. He specializes in leveraging AI to enhance marketing strategies and operational efficiency. This includes robotic process automation (RPA), intelligent process automation (IPA), and accelerated bespoke software development using AI. Ron has helped design and implement comprehensive learning solutions in thousands of academic institutions and enterprise organizations worldwide. His latest book is “AI Unlocked: A Non-Techie Leader’s Guide to Harnessing Artificial Intelligence.“

Sen. Jeff Golden
oregon.gov

Senator Jeff Golden has served as Oregon’s District 3 Senator since 2018. Sen. Golden has spent over three decades shaping policy, media, and community development in Oregon. His political career spans roles as Jackson County Commissioner and environmental policy aide, complemented by his time hosting the daily NPR radio show The Jefferson Exchange and Immense Possibilities on PBS television. With a commitment to sustainability and public service, Sen. Golden’s work reflects a lifelong dedication to enacting meaningful change in Oregon communities.

Paul Hynek, MBA
LinkedIn

EVENT EMCEE Paul Hynek is a Wharton MBA, professor of finance and crypto at Pepperdine University, and creator of startup financial software that has helped thousands of startups raise over $2 billion. Paul created the world’s first online service for kids and introduced it on stage with Bill Gates. He has worked on numerous films and games including Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, Halo, and Call of Duty before helping sell his company to James Cameron. Paul has been documented on TV and in a medical journal for his success in age reversal. He is a sought-after speaker on AI and other topics at global conferences such as South by Southwest and Mensa. Paul will speak anywhere in the world in any language given two months’ notice.

Ian Ingram
neuraven.ai

Ian Ingram is the founder and CEO of Neuraven AI Consulting and Prompt Engineering Services. He is a passionate educator and advocate for the safe deployment of AI technologies. Ian founded Neuraven to meet the rapidly increasing need for AI literacy and its strategic application in business. Ian believes we are at an unprecedented technological inflection point and that the future is ours to change. AI technology is still in its infancy, but it’s evolving at a rate that entire industries cannot keep up with. It is imperative to start the conversation now.

Rep. Pam Marsh
oregonlegislature.gov

Rep. Pam Marsh is now serving in her fifth term as State Representative for House District 5, Southern Jackson County. She currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which addresses statewide policy to provide safe, secure, and affordable homes for Oregonians. She is also a member of the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment and House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Water, and Natural Resources. Pam’s legislative priorities include clean energy development, wildfire recovery, broadband expansion, and solutions to the housing crisis. 

Aaron Moffatt
Linkedin

Aaron Moffatt is a technology leader at the intersection of spatial visualization, AI, and cloud architecture who drives his companies to push the boundaries of what’s possible. A childhood passion to understand neural networks led him to develop specializations in volumetric imaging and large language models (LLM). When he takes off the Virtual Reality headset, he explores the natural world. As an avid nature filmmaker, he combines a love for the outdoors with drone cinematography and storytelling. He thrives among fellow innovators and adventurers who push the edges of what is possible. Aaron also finds inspiration through paragliding, hiking, rock climbing, and playing the violin.

Thor Muller
mach49.com

Thor Muller is the AI Strategist and Entrepreneur in Residence at Mach49, a global venture studio that creates disruptive startups in some of the world’s largest industries. In 2023, he co-founded the Rogue Valley AI Lab, Southern Oregon’s center for AI discovery, research, and development. Previously, Thor served as Chief Digital Officer of Zola Electric, which delivers renewable energy to millions of homes and businesses across the Global South. As a serial technology entrepreneur, Thor has founded numerous businesses, including the pioneering customer support platform Get Satisfaction, which was acquired by Sprinklr (NYSE: CXM). Thor is also the New York Times best-selling co-author of Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business.

Cynthia Salbato
SecretStoryWorld.org

Cynthia Salbato identifies as a Community Experience Architect. From her childhood beginnings organizing small parties, plays, and haunted houses for her neighborhood to present-day orchestration of large-scale parades, processions, and events for her town, Cynthia’s passion is building community through shared experience. Her current project, The Ashlandia Immersive Experience, transforms Ashland’s landmarks into an expansive, multi-location story installation blending art, technology, and local culture.

Heather Stafford
RogueWorkforce.org

Heather Stafford serves as CEO/Executive Director of the Rogue Workforce Partnership, Southern Oregon’s Workforce Investment Board. Under her leadership, the organization has launched impactful initiatives to bridge the skills gap, foster economic growth, and enhance local employability. Her collaborative approach has shaped programs that engage stakeholders and transform the region’s workforce landscape. A respected voice on workforce development, Heather advocates for tech-enabled solutions and policies that support underserved populations, addressing the Future of Work at state and national levels.

Marta Tarantsey
BusinessOregon.gov

Marta Tarantsey is the Regional Development Officer with Business Oregon serving Jackson and Josephine Counties. Her passion is connecting organizations and people to knowledge and resources. Marta’s local not for profit Board involvement reflects her interest in downtown revitalization and rural economic prosperity. Her catalyst for public service career was a post-graduate fellowship in the field of Civil Rights through PSU upon earning her MBA from Willamette University, a program that braided management practices across the public, government, and not for profit sectors. There is a decent chance that Marta is the most efficient bureaucrat you will ever meet.

Teighe Thorsen
Linkidin.com

Teighe Thorsen is a media innovator and digital storyteller who helps mission-driven organizations—the heroes of humanity’s story—on their epic quests to create a better world. Like Merlin to Arthur or Splinter to the Ninja Turtles, she equips these changemakers with the tools, strategies, and content they need to complete their journey. With over a decade of experience crafting evocative narratives for national campaigns, she has expanded her expertise to include consulting on groundbreaking AI-initiatives and teaching teams how to integrate ethical generative AI workflows into their creative processes, guiding today’s heroes to harness the power of innovation while staying true to their values.

Randy Weber, Ed.D
roguecc.edu

Randy Weber, Ed.D took the leadership reins of Rogue Community College in July 2022 as President. His focus is on elevating the college’s strengths, supporting his strong faculty and staff, and developing postsecondary pathways for residents of the Rogue Valley.  President Weber works to inspire his colleagues toward innovative problem-solving,  prioritizing the creation of strong partnerships with the larger community that lead to higher-paying jobs and a stronger regional workforce. His leadership is guided through his significant experience in strategic planning, institutional research, budgeting, facilities, accreditation, enrollment management, and student affairs. He is an advocate of ongoing training for faculty and staff through teaching technologies and student engagement strategies.

Schedule

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*Includes MEALS & FREE PARKING

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Exhibitors

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• Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library

• Rogue Valley AI Lab

• MORE EXHIBITORS TBA

ABOUT THE ANP CONFERENCE SERIES

Since 2015, the Architects of the New Paradigm Conference Series brings together some of the most accomplished leading visionaries, thinkers, and activists to explore fresh approaches to the world’s critical challenges. The format of the events engages participants in a blinders-off approach to the true scope and depth of the meta-issues, combined with innovative and practical solutions.
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Produced by Architects of the New Paradigm Conferences & RVML Resource Center
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SEE ALSO: 2nd-Annual Southern Oregon Human Trafficking Disruptors Summit

Thu-Fri-Sat, May 8-10, 2025
Ashland Hills Hotel • Ashland, OR

GET DETAILS • WATCH 2024 RECORDINGS • Back to TOP