The SXSW 2026 Shortlist: 3 Sessions to Add to Your Schedule
- Featured Session: Reclaiming our Humanity in the Age of AI | Mar 15, 2026 | Time and Venue TBA
- A vital course correction for our digital future, focusing on how we build technology that actually serves people.
- Operating Systems of the 3rd Millennium: AI + XR + NEURO | Mar 16, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT | Venue TBA
- A mind-bending look at the next frontier of human-AI interaction, from neural interfaces to extended reality.
- The Cost of Inclusion: Who Pays When Equity Isn’t Trending | Mar 18, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT | Venue TBA
- A data-driven look at the reality of inclusion and what it takes to build resilient organizations in 2026.
Learn More About the Top SXSW Sessions for 2026
1. Reclaiming our Humanity in the Age of AI
Too often, AI feels like something that’s done to us, not with us or for us. It will affect every aspect of our lives. But AI is neither poison nor panacea. It is and will be what we make it. Now is the moment to shape the future of AI for people. This panel, featuring Lavin Exclusive Speaker Karen Hao (TIME100 AI honoree and New York Times bestselling author of Empire of AI), will explore how we build the ecosystem and infrastructure to ensure that people will benefit the most from AI. Alongside John Palfrey of the MacArthur Foundation and Timnit Gebru of the Distributed AI Research Institute, Karen will offer a new way of thinking about AI that moves from Silicon Valley’s mantra of “move fast and break things” to an alternative vision that centers our humanity.
2. Operating Systems of the 3rd Millennium: AI + XR + NEURO
AI that can read your mind? It’s not sci-fi. It’s already here. This session explores how AI is turning raw brain signals into actionable insights, effectively creating new ways for us to interact with the world. Alongside Matt Angle of Paradromics and Joseph Artuso of OpenBCI, Lavin Exclusive Speaker Nita Farahany (Duke University professor and author of The Battle for Your Brain) draws on her deep expertise in neurotechnology to show us what AI is enabling, how to maintain our mental privacy, and how we can leverage the power of these new technologies to level up our brains. Both smart and accessible, this session is for attendees who want to understand the technology of tomorrow, today.
3. The Cost of Inclusion: Who Pays When Equity Isn’t Trending
Remember when every brand promised to diversify the voices in the room? Seemingly overnight, diversity and inclusion roles were created, corporate pledges were made, and equity became a buzzword. Fast forward to now, when those offices and budgets are vanishing. Where does that leave leaders—especially Black women—who were once vaunted as symbols of progress? This session features Lavin Exclusive Speaker Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, Harvard researcher and author of The Double Tax, as well as Lee Christian Parker of J.P. Morgan Chase, Jamila Taylor of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and Angelina Spicer of Spicey Moms. Expect data, sharp insights, and real stories as they unpack what it takes to create systems where Black women’s leadership can thrive even when equity isn’t trending.
Bring These Conversations to Your Organization
The sessions above are the highlights of the SXSW 2026 schedule because the speakers leading them address the most pressing challenges of our time with clarity and courage.
You can catch them in Austin this March, or book them to bring these crucial insights directly to your team or your next event. To book Karen Hao, Nita Farahany, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, or any of our world-class speakers, contact The Lavin Agency today!
