About the 2025 Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo
The Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo 2025 brings together leading experts, artists, and innovators to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and community empowerment. This resource site provides ongoing access to all session materials and resources from our groundbreaking event.
About the Event
The Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo 2025 was a groundbreaking conference dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming creative industries and empowering communities. The event featured expert speakers, interactive workshops, and collaborative sessions for artists, technologists, and community leaders.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between technology and creativity in the valley, fostering innovation that serves both artistic expression and community empowerment. Sessions covered topics from AI-assisted art creation to AI deployment in business contexts.
All session recordings, slides, and additional resources are now available on this platform for continued learning and creative inspiration.
Event Information
Featured Speakers
Learn from industry leaders and renowned experts in AI, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Baratunde Thurston
Keynote Speaker & Panel Moderator
Emmy-nominated host, writer, public speaker
Baratunde Thurston is a storyteller exploring interdependence across our relationships with each other, nature, and technology. He is an Emmy-nominated host, writer, public speaker, and proud Earthling. His newest creation is Life With Machines, a YouTube podcast focusing on the human side of the A.I. revolution. He is also a host and executive producer of the PBS TV series America Outdoors, creator and host of the How To Citizen podcast, and a founding partner at Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller. In 2019, he delivered what MSNBC's Brian Williams called "one of the greatest TED talks of all time." Baratunde is unique in his ability to integrate and synthesize different and difficult topics in a style that's intelligent, compassionate, and humorous. Baratunde serves on the boards of Civics Unplugged and the Brooklyn Public Library and lives in Southern California.
Rob Minkoff
Keynote Speaker
Acclaimed Filmmaker
Rob Minkoff is an acclaimed American filmmaker, best known for directing The Lion King, the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time. Following a distinguished career at Disney, Rob transitioned to live-action filmmaking with the beloved hybrid Stuart Little and its sequel for Columbia Pictures, starring Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Michael J. Fox, and Nathan Lane. He expanded his international repertoire with the action-packed martial arts adventure The Forbidden Kingdom, filmed in China and starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Li Bingbing, and Liu Yifei. Rob later returned to animation with DreamWorks' 3D CGI feature Mr. Peabody & Sherman, and most recently directed Paws of Fury, a spirited homage to Mel Brooks' classic Blazing Saddles, featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, and Michael Cera. Currently, Rob is developing an exciting slate of film and television projects, including pioneering work that explores the creative potential of AI technologies.
Christine Vendredi
Interim Executive Director
Palm Springs Art Museum
Current Interim Executive Director, Christine Vendredi joined Palm Springs Art Museum in 2024 as the chief curator, bringing with her a diverse background in curating, teaching, and programming. Vendredi previously served as the Artistic Director of Espace Louis Vuitton in Tokyo (2011-2015) where she oversaw over twenty exhibitions and commissioned original works from various artists (from Alex Katz to Refik Anadol). As Director for Art, Culture, and Heritage at Louis Vuitton (2014-2023), Vendredi founded innovative projects and formats. She initiated the In Situ project, inviting female artists to create on-site in gallery spaces in Paris, Munich, and Tokyo. She curated Le fil rouge (Common Points), inviting curators to explore themes of connection and connectivity in exhibitions held in Paris, Munich, and Tokyo. Vendredi holds Ph.D. degrees in Art and Architecture History from EPHE (Paris) and Art History from Charles University.
Val Martinez Garcia
Acting Superintendent/President
College of the Desert
Val Martinez Garcia is a proud community college graduate, who currently serves as the Acting Superintendent/President of College of the Desert, bringing more than two decades of transformative leadership experience in higher education to the Coachella Valley. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to student success, institutional effectiveness, and meaningful community engagement. At College of the Desert, Martinez Garcia has held key executive roles as Vice President of Instruction and Vice President of Student Services, where he provided strategic oversight for academic programs, instructional services, and student support for more than 14,000 students. He has played an integral role in guiding major facilities initiatives, notably the Indio Campus Expansion and contributed to the design of the new Palm Springs Campus. Martinez Garcia holds a Master of Science in School Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of La Verne. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.
Mark Talkington
Founder & Publisher
The Palm Springs Post & The Indio Post
Mark Talkington is the founder and publisher of The Palm Springs Post and the cofounder and publisher of The Indio Post, two community news outlets here in The Coachella Valley. He began his career in media as a newspaper reporter and editor before transitioning into high tech, where for more than two decades he was a key member of the MSN.com team at Microsoft as a news editor and content project manager. He closed out his career at Microsoft last year as part of the Bing News team, where he worked to leverage AI technology into news products. In 2023, he began working with Peter Loforte to develop what became Satchel, a startup that supports journalists by leveraging AI to enhance the efficiency and quality of news reporting.
Ken Buechele
Vice President and CIO
Eisenhower Health
Ken Buechele is vice president and chief information officer (CIO) for Eisenhower Health. Since 2022, his responsibilities include system-wide oversight of cybersecurity, infrastructure, business and clinical information system services for Eisenhower Health. Prior to his current role, Buechele spent the last 19 years at Bronson Healthcare in Kalamazoo, Michigan, holding various leadership roles, including the last 5 years as vice president of information technology. His earlier career includes work in software development at Country Insurance in Bloomington, Illinois, and Thompson Reuters in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Buechele earned his bachelor of science in Applied Computer Science from Illinois State University and his executive MBA from Grand Valley State University.
Chris Wilson
Engineering Director
With decades of experience building and securing the technology infrastructure that powers some of the internet's largest services, Chris Wilson is an Engineering Director at Google focused on ensuring the security of Google's production infrastructure. Chris's career began at the forefront of the commercial internet, where he founded the first internet service provider in his hometown. Throughout his career, Chris has held senior leadership roles at some of the world's most prominent and leading technology companies. Previously, as an Engineering Director at Cruise, his teams built the essential technology platform that powered the first autonomous vehicle service in San Francisco. At Facebook, he led the teams responsible for reliably scaling the company's network infrastructure. His experience also includes building one of the world's largest storage clouds at Dell EMC and leading ESPN's global network infrastructure organization.
James Silva
CEO and Founder
ConciergeBot
James Silva is the CEO and Founder of ConciergeBot, an AI-driven concierge for hotels and vacation rentals over popular messaging services. A seasonal resident of Palm Springs since 2014, James is originally from the Los Angeles area and spent many years in Silicon Valley as a software engineer and product manager, where he worked for tech brands such as eBay, Expedia and Adobe after graduating from Stanford University with a BS degree in Computer Science. James currently splits his time between Palm Springs and Los Angeles and is passionate about the intersection of AI and hospitality.
Bryan Hughes
Founder
VIAlab
Bryan Hughes has over 35 years of experience as a developer, entrepreneur, advisor, and executive, with roles in both startups and Fortune 500 companies. He co-founded Predictive Medical Technologies, aiming to predict cardiopulmonary arrest in ICUs, followed by GOFACTORY, an IoT enterprise acquired by Space Time Insight and later Nokia. His third venture, a global pallet tracking device, unfortunately did not launch. His new company VIAlab is using generative AI to develop a "FICO" score for sustainability and financial performance to bring visibility into the supply chain of money. Hughes also serves on the boards of Third Economy, the Russian River Alliance (a 501(c)(3)), and founded and is on the board for Equitable Access California (a 501(c)(3)), providing free public Wi-Fi to rural Sonoma County communities.
Habib Jaffer
CEO and Co-founder
Domus Tech Solutions
Habib Jaffer is the CEO and co-founder of Domus Tech Solutions, an innovative startup that makes smart home technology accessible and user-friendly through an AI-driven home platform. With a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Western Governors University and a lifelong interest in tech, Habib specializes in integrating diverse technologies to create seamless experiences where people interact with tech the most, in their homes. He previously launched a successful custom PC building program during his time at Best Buy, where he also met his co-founder, Rane McCartney.
Rane McCartney
COO and Co-founder
Domus Tech Solutions
Rane McCartney, COO and co-founder of Domus Tech Solutions, combines strong business acumen with a passion for supporting consumers as they navigate new technologies. A graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, Rane has consistently built and led top-performing teams at Best Buy's Geek Squad across numerous locations. Rane is dedicated to helping consumers confidently adopt new technology, ensuring reliability, security, and ease of use for every client.
What is the Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo?
Your complete guide to understanding the Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo 2025
Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo Information
What: The Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo 2025 is a transformative one-day conference exploring how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing creative industries and empowering communities in the Coachella Valley.
When: The expo took place on June 23, 2025, featuring 8 expert sessions and 20+ speakers.
Where: Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Attendees: Over 500 participants including artists, technologists, business leaders, and community members.
Key Topics & Sessions
Frequently Asked Questions About the Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo
What was the Palm Springs AI Expo about?
The expo focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity, featuring expert speakers, workshops, and community discussions about AI's transformative impact.
Who attended the Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo?
Over 500 participants including artists, filmmakers, business owners, healthcare professionals, educators, and technology enthusiasts from the Coachella Valley and beyond.
What resources are available from the expo?
All session recordings, presentation slides, AI policy templates, business guides, and educational materials are freely available on this website.
When is the next Palm Springs AI Expo?
The 2026 Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo is being planned. Join our notification list to be among the first to know about registration and details.
How can I learn more about the expo?
Explore our session materials, use our AI guide for questions, or contact the organizers. All information and resources are designed to help you understand AI's creative applications.
What makes this expo unique?
We bridge the gap between AI technology and creative applications, focusing on community impact and practical implementation in the Coachella Valley region.