Evolve Summit 2026

Building Intelligence for the Real World

  • Miami, FL USA
  • Jan. 30-31, 2026

In 2025, Evolve brought leaders, creators and policymakers together in New York City to explore how AI could solve real problems and create meaningful change.

 

EVOLVE 2026 takes the conversation further and asks a deeper question: what happens when intelligence moves from concept to the physical world and begins to live in the systems, environments and communities it serves?

 

Join 300+ industry leaders, policymakers, technologists and creatives for two powerful days of discovery, innovation and great insights. Together, we will explore what it takes to use AI to drive outcomes at scale. Watch highlights from Evolve 2025 below, or visit our YouTube channel to see key moments from last year’s sessions.

Meet our Speakers

Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee

District 9 Commissioner, Miami-Dade County

John Paul Farmer

Global Head of Public Sector, Stripe

Commissioner Alisha Bell

Commission Chair, Wayne County, MI, Representing Detroit

Masai
Ujiri

Former President, Toronto Raptors

Sára
Nožková

CEO & Co-Founder, Flox Intelligence

Dartanion Swift-Williams

Chief Digital Officer, City of Baltimore

Elliot
Smith

CEO, Motmot

Leigh-Ann Buchanan

President & CEO, Miami Dade Innovation Authority

Evan
Rapoport

CEO, Amphibian

Spencer
Horne

Founder & CEO, Cloudline

Leslie
Gill

President & CEO, Rung for Women

Richard
Buery

CEO, Robin Hood

April Rai

President & CEO, COMTO

Mitch Dabling

Technology Director, Water Business Group, HDR

Calvin Farr

CEO Prince William Water

Ricky Smith

CEO of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Justina Mann

Former VIce President of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Fredrick Royan

Leader in Sustainability and Water Management, Frost & Sullivan

Mayor Chris Lee

Mayor, Tuskegee, Alabama

Jon Schnur

CEO, America Achieves

Santhosh Ramdoss

President & CEO, Gary Community Ventures

John Matelski

Chief Information Officer, National Association of Counties (NACo)

Palash Ahmed

Head of Sony Pictures Television Music Development, Sony

Don Gips

Strategic Counselor and CEO Emeritus, Skoll Foundation

Matt Fraser

Former CTO, City of New York

Agenda

January 29th, 2026

Day 0

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Welcome Reception

January 30th, 2026

Day 1 Evolve Summit

8:30am – 9:00am

Check-In and Breakfast

9:00am – 9:30am

Governing Smarter: How AI is Advancing Modern Cities

9:45am – 10:00am

Welcome to Miami: Commissioner Kionne McGhee

10:00am – 11:30am

Keynote Address: When Intelligence Becomes Physical

11:30am – 12:15pm

Coffee Break & Live Technology Immersion

12:15pm – 1:00pm

Breakout Session: Three Lenses on AI Impact
  1. AI for the Public Good
  2. The Human Advantage in an AI World
  3. Embodied Intelligence at Work

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Lunch & Networking

2:00pm – 3:30pm

Education in the Age of AI

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Break

4:00pm – 4:45pm

Breakout Sessions: Three Paths into the Future
  1. Innovation in the Magic City
  2. Flowing Forward – AI and the Future of Water
  3. AI on the Tarmac

4:45pm – 5:00pm

Closing Session

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Networking Cocktails

January 31st, 2026

Day 2 Formula E Miami Experience

9:00am – 9:15am

Arrival & Check-in

9:15am – 10:00am

Pre-Race Briefing

10:00am – 11:00am

Transit to the Race

11:00am – 3:30pm

The Miami E-Prix Experience

3:30pm – 5:00pm

Transit Back to Downtown Miami

Agenda

Day 0

6:00 – 9:00pm | Penthouse at Riverside Wharf

Welcome Reception

Join us for a delightful evening of stunning Miami city views and connection as we kick-off Evolve 2026.

Summit Day

8:30 – 9:00am | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Check-in, Breakfast

Arrive, check in, and enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees.
9:00 – 9:30 am | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Governing Smarter: How AI is Advancing Modern Cities

Explore how cities are using AI, data and intelligent systems to govern more effectively — from improving service delivery and infrastructure management to enabling faster, more informed decision-making. The focus is on what’s working today, and what it takes to build cities that are more responsive, resilient, and citizen-centered.

Moderator
Leigh-Ann Buchanan

President & CEO, Miami Dade Innovation Authority

Speaker
April Rai

President & CEO, COMTO

Speaker
Matt Fraser

Former CTO, City of New York

Speaker
Dartanion Swift-Williams

Chief Data Officer, City of Baltimore

Speaker
John Matelski

Chief Information Officer, National Association of Counties (NACo)

9:30 – 9:45am | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Welcome to Miami: County Commissioner Kionne McGhee

Start the day with a warm welcome to Miami, celebrating the city’s vibrant culture, community, and vision for the future. Hear about the opportunities and leadership driving the city forward and setting the tone for what’s ahead.

Speaker
Commissioner Kionne McGhee

District 9 Commissioner, Miami-Dade County

10:00 – 11:30am | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Keynote Address: When Intelligence Becomes Physical

Discover the next frontier of intelligence with our CEO, Fred Swaniker, as he unveils the power of Physical AI in transforming real world systems. Experience live demonstrations and immersive showcases revealing how Sand is connecting data, systems and people to drive real impact.

Speaker
Fred Swaniker

Founder & CEO, Sand Technologies

11:30am – 12:15pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Experience Center

Coffee Break & Live Technology Immersion

Recharge with coffee and refreshments while exploring hands-on demonstrations of the latest Physical AI technology in action.
12:15 – 1:00pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Breakout Session: AI for the Public Good

Understand how AI and data are enabling smarter, more responsive systems, and how these breakthroughs can drive meaningful change at scale. A conversation focused not on possibility alone, but on real impact.

Moderator
John Paul Farmer

Global Head of Public Sector, Stripe

Speaker
Commissioner Alisha Bell

Commissioner, Wayne County (Detroit)

Speaker
Mayor Chris Lee

Mayor, City of Tuskegee, AL

Speaker
Myriam Said

Digital Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister Ethiopia

12:15 – 1:00pm | Side Stage 1

Breakout Session: The Human Advantage in an AI World

What does it mean to stay human in an AI-driven world? Explore what it takes to thrive in the AI era, how people can leverage AI to amplify their impact, and what we must do differently to succeed in a world where humans and intelligence converge.

Speaker
Evan Rapoport

CEO, Amphibian

Speaker
Santhosh Ramdoss

President & CEO, Gary Community Ventures

12:15 – 1:00pm | Side Stage 2

Breakout Session: Embodied Intelligence at Work

See Physical AI come to life through partner showcases and hands-on demonstrations. Explore how AI is enhancing human potential, powering real-world systems and redefining what’s possible when people, machines and environments work together.

Moderator
Chris Suzdak

Vice President Partnerships, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Dr. Demetris Coleman

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Motmot

Speaker
Spencer Horne

Founder & CEO, Cloudline

Speaker
Sára Nožková

CEO & Co-Founder, Flox Intelligence

1:00 – 2:00pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Experience Center

Lunch & Networking

Enjoy fresh flavors and a pause to refuel before the next session.
2:00 – 3:30pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Education in the Age of AI

The future of AI depends on the talent we develop today. But what does it really take to prepare students for this future? Hear from a panel of bold learners as they share how they’re equipping themselves for the AI age, and get a first look at a transformative initiative set to redefine how the next generation prepares for an AI-driven world.

Moderator
Jon Schnur

CEO, America Achieves

Moderator
Mirafe Marcos

General Manager, ALX Ethiopia

Speaker
Leslie Gill

President & CEO, Rung for Women

Speaker
Don Gips

Strategic Counselor & CEO Emeritus, Skoll Foundation

Speaker
Richard Buery

CEO, Robin Hood Foundation

Speaker
Knightess Oyibo

PhD Candidate, Human Genetics, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Speaker
Linda Ackah-Mensah

Digital Innovation Graduate, Georgia State University

Speaker
Ayobami Adebesin

Software Engineer, AWS

Speaker
Francis Etang

Systems Validation Engineer, NVIDIA

3:30 – 4:30pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Experience Center

Coffee Break & Live Technology Immersion

Recharge with coffee and refreshments while exploring hands-on demonstrations of the latest Physical AI technology in action.

4:00 – 4:30pm | Main Stage

Flowing Forward - AI and the Future of Water

Understand how data and AI are being leveraged to manage our most precious resource more intelligently and efficiently — from improving operational decision-making to building more resilient, sustainable water systems.

Moderator
Shaun Dipnall

Chief Delivery Officer, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Mitch Dabling

Technology Director - Water Business, HDR Inc.

Speaker
Fredrick Royan

Associate Partner Sustainability, Frost & Sullivan

Speaker
Calvin Farr

CEO, Prince William Water

Speaker
Commissioner Tommy Calvert

Commissioner, Precinct 4, Bexar County

4:00 – 4:30pm | Side Stage 1

Urban Wealth Funds: From Dormant Assets to Revenue

Your city is likely sitting on untapped capital. How can underutilized assets – from surplus land to vacant real estate – be transformed into engines for sustainable growth? Join this dynamic roundtable to explore Urban Wealth Funds, a powerful framework for converting public holdings into yield-generating assets, and the role that data & AI can play in accelerating implementation.

Speaker
Asong Suh

Managing Director, Public Sector, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Ifeanyi Alika

Director, AI Solutions, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Byron Roelofsz

Vice President of Technical Sales, Sand Technologies

4:00 – 4:30pm | Side Stage 2

AI in the Tarmac

Explore how AI is transforming aviation and airport operations — from optimizing flight schedules and predictive maintenance to enhancing passenger flow, safety, and resilience. This session examines how intelligent systems are enabling faster decisions, smoother journeys, and more efficient, adaptive airports in an increasingly complex global travel ecosystem.

Moderator
Spencer Horne

Founder & CEO, Cloudline

Speaker
Justina Mann

Former Vice President, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Speaker
Sára Nožková

CEO & Co-Founder, Flox Intelligence

Speaker
Ricky Smith

CEO, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

4:45 – 5:15pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Fireside Chat: AI in Sports

In his first appearance since stepping away as President of the NBA Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri joins Fred Swaniker for a fireside chat on leadership in the age of intelligence. Drawing on his experience across sport, business and global development, the conversation explores how values, data, innovation and human judgment come together to build teams and systems that perform under pressure – and endure well beyond moments of success.

Moderator
Fred Swaniker

Founder & CEO, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Masai Ujiri

Former President, Toronto Raptors

5:15 – 6:00pm | The Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Main Room

Creativity and AI

If there’s one sector that understands creativity, adaptation and agility, it’s media and entertainment. This session asks what lessons can be borrowed from the way creators are already working with AI, and how those lessons translate to the biggest challenges leaders are tackling across industries. Whether in government, policy, operations, or industry leadership, this is a chance to hear directly from voices pushing the boundaries of what technology and innovation can make possible. The session features Telisha “Nikki” Jones, creator of Xania Monet, the first AI-generated artist to chart on Billboard, who earned a record 125 million streams in her first year.

Moderator
Fred Swaniker

Founder & CEO, Sand Technologies

Speaker
Telisha 'Nikki" Jones

Singer-Songwriter & Inventor of AI-Artist Xania Monet

Speaker
Palash Ahmed

Former Founding Head of Sony Pictures Television Music Development

Formula E Miami E-Prix Experience

9:00 – 9:15am | Hyatt Regency Miami

Check-in, Breakfast

Arrive, check in, and enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees.
9:15 – 10:00am | Hyatt Regency Miami

Pre-Race Briefing

Understand what makes Formula E special, how to make sense of the race, history of our team, how AI and data are crucial to success, and logistics/plans for the day.
10:00 – 11:00am | Hard Rock Stadium Miami

Transit to the Race

11:00am – 3:30 pm | Hard Rock Stadium Miami

The Miami E-Prix Experience

Strap in for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes dive into the relentless speed and precision of Formula E, led by Envision Racing, one of the sport’s original and most forward-thinking teams.

 

Hear directly from engineers and strategists as they share how they work with Sand to turn race data into a competitive weapon, using big data and AI to power split-second decisions that translate into podium finishes.

 

Following this session, head to the pit lane for an up-close look at the heart of race operations. Experience the hum of high voltage systems, the rush of last minute adjustments, and the rare opportunity to stand where the team makes its most critical decisions.

 

Finally, take your place in the best seats in the house to watch the electrifying race unfold, armed with new insight into how data, technology and human ingenuity combine to chase victory at over 170 mph.

3:30 – 5:00pm | Hard Rock Stadium Miami

Transit Back to Downtown Miami

Gina Raimondo

Distinguished Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations and Former Secretary of Commerce

  • Gina M. Raimondo is a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). From March 2021 through January 2025 she was the United States Secretary of Commerce.
  • As secretary of commerce, she was focused on a simple but vital mission — make America more competitive by spurring good-paying jobs, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and advancing economic and national security. The Department of Commerce, under her leadership, made historic investments in Internet access, manufacturing, economic development, workforce training, supply chain resiliency, and climate readiness through the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Secretary Raimondo also took a leading role in ensuring the responsible development of artificial intelligence. She stood up the U.S. AI Safety Institute in the Department of Commerce, which partnered with leading American AI companies to test major new models prior to deployment for potential risks to public safety and national security.
  • Raimondo was the seventy-fifth governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor. Under her leadership, Rhode Island became one of the first states in the country to offer tuition-free community college for every high school graduate. She was re-elected by the widest margins in a generation and the first governor of Rhode Island in decades to win the majority of the vote.
  • She also served as the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA). During her term, she rebuilt the entire DGA leadership team, bolstered the fundraising, communications, and research teams, and grew the digital program exponentially.
  • Prior to her role as Governor, Raimondo was elected to serve as general treasurer of Rhode Island. When Raimondo took office as General Treasurer she restructured the state’s seven billion dollar underfunded pensions, allowing Rhode Island to “avert pension disaster without raising taxes” (New York Times) and designed a first of its kind retirement system to ensure retirement security for the states public employees and teachers.
  • Prior to her service in state government, she founded Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm in her home state of Rhode Island, where she led the firm’s healthcare practice.
  • Raimondo earned her BA in economics from Harvard University and a PhD from Oxford University through a Rhodes Scholarship. She is a graduate of Yale Law School and clerked for U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood. The 2016 recipient of Yale Law School’s prestigious Alumni Award of Merit, Governor Raimondo is an alumni fellow on the Yale Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and serves on the Truth Initiative’s Board of Directors.