Unfinished Live Episode Three: Technology & Humanity
On November 24th, 2020, the third of four episodes of the Unfinished Live digital series streamed live on the web to an international audience. This episode focused on technology and humanity and asked the fundamental question “Is technology driving progress or chaos?”
Writer, Artist and Activist, Baratunde Thurston, again served as host live from Los Angeles and explored the topic with a cast of technologists, impact leaders, changemakers, artists and the the viewers.
The audience was guided through a fast-paced hour of live segments, dynamic films and provoking performances to showcase lived experience, creative expression, and real-world candor. Through conversations, exchanges and roundtable discussions, experts joined everyday voices in a nuanced exploration of possibility and discovery.
From the tech industry to public policy to the technology itself, episode three included; 2020 Presidential candidate and Founder of Humanity Forward, Andrew Yang; Host or the TED Radio Hour at NPR, Manoush Zomorodi; Co-founder & President of the Center for Humane Technology, Tristan Harris; Axios Chief Technology Correspondent, Ina Fried; President, Color Of Change, Rashad Robinson; Artist & Senior Technical Training Specialist, Contentful Amelia Winger-Bearskin; Co-founder & Co-director of the AI Now Institute, NYU, Meredith Whittaker; Political activist & Founding Member of Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolokonnikova; Executive Director, Aspen Digital, Aspen Institute Vivian Schiller, Professor and Director, Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology, Gil Weinberg; Founder, Code for America Jennifer Pahlka; Artist & Filmmaker, Lynn Hershman Leeson; CEO of Genetic Alliance, Sharon Terry and Shimon the Robot.
Unfinished Live has partnered with an unparalleled, impact-driven partner network to create both the series and the impact platform (see below) including The Aspen Institute, The Shed, For Freedoms, Imperative 21, Ashoka, Georgetown, MilM2, McCourt and PolicyLink.
Empire is proud to serve as producer of this important series, managing the development and production of each episode as well as the overall project.
About Unfinished
Unfinished is an impact network and media platform devoted to the simple idea that if we open our minds and create the space for possibilities, we can advance powerful solutions to the most critical challenges of our time. By tapping into the power of communities, creative media and new technology, we connect thought-leaders, culture-shapers, policy-makers and innovators to provoke ideas, elevate unheard voices and pursue collaborations for greater impact.
To learn more and to RSVP for an upcoming episode visit: https://unfinished.com/
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent