Summer Solstice 2025 Recap
Summer Solstice – The Human Side of AI: The Intersection of Silicon and Carbon (June 11th, 2025)
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way we live, work, and create. This year’s Summer Solstice event, hosted by Innovate@UCLA at the UCLA Faculty Center, brought together nearly 100 professionals across industries to examine the real-world impact of AI in healthcare, education, and the creative arts.
The morning opened with breakfast and networking and a brief introduction and framing by Joseph Cevetello (Programs Event Chair, Innovate@UCLA). This was followed by the first panel discussion, AI-Infused Street Medicine. Moderated by Joseph Cevetello, who also chaired the event, the panel featured Sanjit Mahanti (Co-founder & Chief Business Development Officer, Akido Labs), Karthik Murali (Head of Safety Net Programs, Akido Labs), and Dr. Steven Hochman (Los Angeles Director of Street Medicine, Akido Labs). The conversation focused on how AI tools are being used to improve care for unhoused populations and address systemic challenges in public health delivery.
Structured networking sessions, facilitated by Theresa Miller (Women in Technology Chair, Innovate@UCLA) and members of the WIT Committee, followed. Organized around specific themes – including AI in healthcare, education, media, governance, and ethics—the sessions were a highlight of the day, drawing strong participation and creating space for attendees to connect through shared interests and professional focus areas.
Later in the program, Jeff Burke (Professor and Associate Dean, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television) led a session titled XANADU Reimagined – AI, Performance & Audience Co-Creation. He was joined by two UCLA collaborators: Michaela Duarte (’25) (Director, Writer, and Designer) and Mira Winick (’20) (Director and Creative Producer). Duarte shared her creative process centered on play and storytelling, while Winick focused on immersive, AI-driven experiences across theater and digital platforms.
A second panel discussion, Exploring AI in Higher Education: Real-World Applications from UCLA, was moderated by Trent Johnson (Chief Strategy Officer, CIE). Panelists included Davida Johnson (Executive Director, UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing) and Howard Miller (Chief Information Officer, UCLA Anderson School of Management). The conversation highlighted concrete ways in which UCLA is integrating AI into academic research, student services, and institutional operations.
The event concluded with a keynote conversation between Ray Wang (Founder and Chairman, Constellation Research) and Joseph Cevetello. Titled The Post-AI Future Ahead, the discussion offered insights into leadership, strategic foresight, and human adaptability in the face of continuous technological change.
Innovate@UCLA extends its appreciation to this year’s event sponsors—Moveworks, OutSystems, and TenTek—for their support in making Summer Solstice 2025 possible.