Dear Community,
Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 10, which is when the next round of Keynotes and Featured Speakers for the 2025 SXSW Conference will be announced.
Several of the names and topics will be related to artificial intelligence. Indeed, the many pros and cons of artificial intelligence will be one of the most prevalent conversation points at the event. Not only will you find content covering AI in the Artificial Intelligence track (March 9-13), but you'll also discover it sprinkled throughout most of our 22 industry-focused tracks.
Today's edition of the CCN showcases Helen Todd, a longtime speaker at SX, who will be shedding more light on this subject of AI. Her session for 2025 is titled Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age! On stage at SXSW, she will be joined by Helen 2.ODD, the digital clone of herself that she created in July of 2023.
Tell us more about Helen 2.ODD, which is the digital clone of Helen Todd. What have you learned about AI via this digital clone? It’s been a fun adventure as the first resident of Cincinnati to be digitally cloned and have a hyper-realistic avatar of myself! Often when people hear of AI digital twins, many jump to the harms of deepfakes, which we absolutely need better protections against. Virtual humans can open up new economic possibilities or be exploitative of their human counterparts. Having an ethically made digital AI avatar has reinforced the importance of Responsible AI and the intentionality of why we build and leverage AI and GenAI tools.
You have been producing the Creativity Squared podcast and newsletter since April 2023. Who have been some of your favorite guests on this podcast and why? One very cool episode opens with a soundbite from SXSW this past March when I asked the AI-recreated Salvador Dalí if he’d be a guest on my show — “he” said yes! Also, I’m really excited as today I’m at Miami Art Basel doing a live podcast recording with King Willonius, TIME100 AI 2024 honoree and the creator of the viral sensation "BBL Drizzy."
Who is the dream guest for the Creativity Squared podcast? Dolly Parton! I grew up in her East Tennessee hometown, and she’s always been forward-thinking — she even turned herself into a hologram back in 2013. She’s teased releasing posthumous tracks, and I’m so curious if her thinking has evolved with GenAI. Is she considering or already experimenting with cloning her voice for fans to create music, like Grimes and Holly Herndon (two other dream guests!)?
Do you believe that governments around the world should do more to regulate AI? I really love Cal Al-Dhubaib's perspective that risk doesn't preclude progress — it just requires a level of investment proportionate to the risk. Given AI's existential risk for humanity and our planet, our current approach and regulatory framework fall short to meet the moment. We're racing towards AGI and integrating AI into every aspect of our lives without fully understanding its capabilities — or risks. How much of this investment is going to human safety and well-being? I agree with Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin from the Center for Humane Technology. In their “AI Dilemma” presentation, they advocate for the AI equivalent of nuclear de-escalation with a democratic framework where everyone has a voice in our shared future — and not just a few driving the narrative about what’s possible.
How do you anticipate the landscape changing for companies working on artificial intelligence under the second Trump Administration? No matter what chaos ensues with the new administration, I’d encourage companies to focus on what matters most to their relationship with all stakeholders to cultivate trust — this is a longer play than four years. With trust, comes Responsible AI and truly centering human well-being, so that AI can live up to its promise of amplifying the best of human potential.
Are you optimistic (or pessimistic) on the long-term impact of AI on our society? Sam Jordan, an amazing futurist who works with Amy Webb at the Future Today Institute, said this in my interview with her: "The pessimistic scenario happens when you maintain the status quo. As technology advances, and as behaviors change, you will get a pessimistic scenario 10 out of 10 times if you change nothing. Optimism is harder, because optimism requires you to do something." I remain optimistic and believe that we’re all co-creating the future, so it’s upon all of us to help imagine and shape it so that AI lives up to its promise.
You have a voracious appetite for books and for reading. What is your favorite AI-related book? I'm SUPER excited to share that my SXSW presentation, Farewell, Information Age — Welcome to the Imagination Age, is becoming a book! The conversations on my podcast have informed many of the concepts, and I couldn’t be more excited to present them on stage in Austin in March and in print next year. You can pre-order a copy today as a crowd-funded advance to support an independent female voice.
You’ve been attending and speaking at SXSW pretty regularly over the last decade. Why are you so dedicated to the event? To me, SXSW is where community, ideas, and creativity collide with an infectious energy that’s optimistic about the possibilities that await. It’s also the best glimpse into the future from those who are collectively building it. I always come home with new friends, insights, and inspiration. Thank you to you and the entire SXSW team for all of your hard work that goes into making the magic of SXSW possible!
Attend Todd's session and hundreds of other compelling sessions from March 7-13 in Austin by purchasing your badge for SXSW 2025. Special discounts are available for students, those just beginning their careers, and groups. After you buy your badge, secure your hotel via the SXSW Housing Department.
Finally, If you live in Austin, you can get more details about SXSW 2025 Keynotes and Featured Speakers by attending the next edition of Tacos and Topics. This informative event occurs on Wednesday, December 11 at 8am at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP (300 Colorado St).
Is this the real life?
Hugh Forrest
Co-President / Chief Programming Officer
@Hugh Forrest
