5 Featured AI Sessions from SXSW 2025 You Can Watch Now
At SXSW 2025, thought leaders and innovators are challenging conventional models and exploring how AI can be harnessed not just to optimize business processes but also to drive broader societal impact.
For organizations tracking Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leveraging AI means not only improving data collection, monitoring, and analysis but also reimagining how data informs policy, impact investing, and social entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, startups, social enterprises, and philanthropic initiatives stand to benefit from AI’s capacity to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and foster transparency.
The sessions featured in this article offer diverse perspectives — from rethinking corporate AI transformations and redefining user interfaces to revolutionizing media production, exploring the convergence of AI and quantum computing, and democratizing AI evaluation. Together, they underscore the need for a measured, inclusive, and innovative approach to technology that can drive sustainable growth and empower communities worldwide.
Here’s a quick look at the five sessions:
How Not to Screw up an AI Transformation While Shaping the Future of Your Company
Speaker: Ian Beacraft, CEO, Signal And Cipher
“When we look at the world through the lens of the past, it’s kind of like we’re navigating with the stars when we have a GPS in our pocket.”
Ian Beacraft cautions against applying outdated paradigms to AI transformation, urging organizations to move beyond incremental optimization toward a comprehensive reinvention of processes and team dynamics. He illustrates how rethinking our approach — by embracing rapid skill acquisition, leveraging high-signal small data, and fostering adaptable leadership — can help companies navigate the complex challenges of digital disruption. The session offers a measured and forward-thinking perspective that challenges conventional wisdom and prompts a strategic reevaluation of how we implement AI in our organizations.
AI is the New UI: Transforming Your Everyday
Speaker: Cristiano Amon, President and CEO, Qualcomm
“Our interaction with technology is shifting from an app-centric model to a human-centric experience — where AI understands our language and context to transform every device into an intuitive assistant.”
Cristiano Amon outlines a pivotal transition in how we engage with digital technology. He explains that AI is evolving into a seamless interface that moves beyond the limitations of screens and apps, integrating into everyday devices such as smartphones, PCs, and cars. By leveraging on-device AI capabilities, Qualcomm is driving a shift toward personalized, immediate, and context-aware interactions. This measured vision not only redefines user experience but also sets the stage for a new era of intelligent computing.
Paramount CTO on AI in the Media Industry
Speaker: Phil Wiser, CTO, EVP and Head of Multiplatform Operations, Paramount Global
“AI isn’t about replacing the human touch in filmmaking; it’s about empowering creatives by reducing repetitive labor and enabling near real-time decision-making — so that the art of storytelling can truly flourish.”
Phil Wiser provides a clear-eyed view of how Paramount is integrating AI across its content production pipeline — from leveraging predictive analytics for creative ideation and automating script analysis, to streamlining asset retrieval and enabling agile editing workflows with tools like the ‘secret formula’ for efficient clip compilation. He underscores that while current AI technologies are still evolving and complex, their practical application is already reshaping processes in marketing, pre-visualization, and virtual set production without compromising the creative core of media making.
Wiser also candidly addresses the challenges of maintaining continuity and control in AI-generated video, alongside the ethical and intellectual property considerations that arise with these new tools. His insights call for a balanced, collaborative approach that bridges the traditional creative mindset with emerging tech capabilities, setting a thoughtful roadmap for the media industry’s transformation over the coming years.
From Sci-Fi to Society: The Next Era of AI and Quantum Computing
Speakers:
Jon Fortt, CNBC
Arvind Krishna, CEO, IBM
“Look, I think what we all strive for as society is to improve the quality of life. And I’m not going to define that because each person has their own definitions. How do you improve quality of life? You’ve got to improve productivity in society, and you’ve got to be able to give democratized access to those benefits to everybody.”
Arvind Krishna and Jon Fortt look at the practical convergence of AI and quantum computing, urging a shift from speculative hype to real-world innovation. Krishna highlights how IBM’s hybrid cloud strategy and ongoing advancements in AI are transforming industries — from accelerating drug discovery and optimizing financial models to driving material innovations — while quantum computing promises to tackle complex problems with greater energy efficiency and precision.
The discussion also underscores the critical role of collaborative public–private partnerships, global talent, and balanced policies in harnessing these technologies for broad societal benefit. By emphasizing a measured approach to integrating emerging tech with existing systems, the session challenges us to reimagine how transformative innovations can improve everyday operations and enhance the quality of life for all.
Rebooting AI from the Ground Up
Speakers: Rumman Chowdhury, United States Science Envoy for Artificial Intelligence, Humane Intelligence
Allison Morrison, Global Affairs at Meta
“I think the shortest answer is choice. I think replacing one set of people who we think don’t mean well with another set of people that we think do mean well is not actually how we get to a better future. Fundamentally, the thing we have to question is the paradigm of power structure. In order to do that, people just have to have choice.”
Dr. Rumman Chowdhury and Allison Morrison discuss how democratizing AI evaluation can fundamentally reshape the development and deployment of technology. They argue that empowering users to critically assess AI systems through open-source practices, algorithmic auditing, and interdisciplinary collaboration is key to creating transparent, fair, and accountable models. The session highlights that bridging the gap between technical innovation and societal needs requires not only robust regulatory frameworks but also new career pathways that enable a diverse range of voices to participate in the conversation. Ultimately, the vision presented calls for a shift in power structures — ensuring that AI evolves as a tool that truly serves and enhances human choice.
If you want a more in depth review of this session, be sure to check out our recent article:
Conclusion
The SXSW 2025 sessions remind us that AI is far more than just a technical upgrade — it is a transformative force poised to redefine industries, enrich data practices, and drive meaningful social impact. As we witness innovations that range from rethinking corporate transformation to reshaping media production and integrating quantum computing, it’s clear that embracing AI with transparency, accountability, and inclusivity is essential.
For organizations tracking SDGs and for impact investors, startups, and social enterprises, these insights offer a strategic roadmap for harnessing data more effectively and innovating responsibly to:
- democratize access to intelligent systems,
- empower diverse voices in the innovation process, and
- continuously challenge traditional approaches to work and governance.
By leveraging AI’s potential thoughtfully, we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and productive society.
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Note: Generative AI tools were used in the creation of this article to assist with research, summarization, and editing.
