Inspired by the Moody's Spring 2026 exhibition, this half-day, multi-panel symposium will explore how artists and scholars are navigating the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence with a focus on creativity and ethics. The event will feature keynote speaker K Allado-McDowell and discussions led by technologist Rashed Haq and Rice professor Rodrigo Ferreira. Lunch is provided with registration.

This event is made possible by Nancy Dunlap.

SCHEDULE

8:30 - 9:00 am Registration and Coffee

9:00 - 9:15 am Opening Remarks, Alison Weaver, Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director, Moody Center for the Arts

9:15 - 10:15 am Keynote, K Allado-McDowell, writer, artist, musician and founder of the Artists + Machine Intelligence program at Google

10:15 - 10:30 am Coffee Break

10:30 -11:30 am Panel One, moderator Rashed Haq, artist, technologist, and writer
Panelists Sofia Crespo, exhibiting artist; Noam Elcott, Associate Professor, Art History, Columbia University; and Nora Khan, independent critic, author and curator

11:30 - 11:45 am Coffee Break

11:45 - 12:45 pm Panel Two, moderator Rodrigo Ferreira, Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science, Rice University
Panelists Nouf Aljowaysir, exhibiting artist; Kai-Luen Liang, interdisciplinary artist, Teaching Faculty, Integrated Media / Music Technology, California Institute of the Arts; Fred Ritchin, Dean Emeritus, School at the International Center of Photography

12:45 - 1:45 Lunch