SXSW Tackles AI in 2024 Speaker List: Rosario Dawson, ChatGPT head appearing next year

Artificial intelligence is the shadow looming over the creative industries, so it's no surprise that AI plays a major role in the first lineup of featured speakers for South by Southwest (March 8-16, 2024).

Hugh Forrest, chief programming officer and co-president of SXSW, said, “Whether it’s how AI will change the way we create, or how storytelling can further amplify voices that fully represent our communities, at SXSW we’re constantly discussing how the future will impact our world."

Well, as the increasing controversy of AI-generated "news" article, and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes prove those issues could well turn out to be contentious – a core part of SXSW, a conference where creatives and technologists meet and occasionally clash. The speaker list also includes AI advocate and ChatGPT chief Peter Deng.

However, the other side of the equation in the programming is the push for more humanity in reporting and storytelling, with speakers including actor and activist Rosario Dawson and The Emancipator Publisher and General Manager Amber Payne discussing the ability of media to enact social change.

The 38th annual SXSW runs March 8-16, 2024. More details and info at sxsw.com. And don't forget to follow all our coverage, and dig into the archives, at austinchronicle.com/sxsw. Now here's that first round of announcements:

• AI and Humanity’s Co-evolution with OpenAI’s Head of ChatGPT with OpenAI's VP of Consumer Product and Headof ChatGPT Peter Deng in conversation with SignalFire VenturePartner Josh Constine.

• Amy Webb Launches 2024 Emerging Tech Trend Report with Future Today Institute CEO and NYU Stern School of Business Professor Amy Webb. As a bonus, session attendees will receive a special SXSW-edition of the Tech Trend Report.

• Building the Next Era of the Internet with Andreessen Horowitz General Partner and a16z crypto founder and Managing Partner Chris Dixon.

• A Conversation with Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan: Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper and ACE Entertainment founder and CEO Matt Kaplan discuss their new media venture and production company, Trending.

• Dichotomies: Visions of Technology’s Role in Divergent Futures with Deloitte Consulting’s Chief Futurist Mike Bechtel.

• Keep It Weird: AI is a Tool For Creativity with Principal Designer for Emerging Design, AI/ML at Adobe BrookeHopper and author, Design Matters podcast host and PrintMag.com co-owner and editorial director Debbie Millman.

• Masterclass: Storytelling for Social Impact with New York Times bestselling author andDirector of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and The Emancipator Publisher and General Manager Amber Payne.

• The Science & Craft of Storytelling with filmmaker and founder and Creative Breed CEO Cheryl Miller Houser.

• Tim Ferris and Kevin Rose: The Random Show! with host and New York Times bestselling author Tim Ferriss and PROOF co-founder and CEO Kevin Rose.

• Women Who Embody Revolution Through Storytelling with actress, producer, activist, and the Rio Dawn Foundation founder Rosario Dawson, tribal attorney and Giniw Collective founder Tara Houska, musician and filmmaker Gingger Shankar, and One Earth co-founder andExecutive Director Justin Winters discussing their new storytelling collective Little Indian Girl.

• Radha Agrawal, author, co-founder of THINX, and co-founder, CEO, and chief community architect ofDaybreaker.