Epicenter NYC and Museum of the Moving Image to Host Free “AI for the People” Summit in Queens; Register Now

Epicenter NYC and the Museum of the Moving Image will host a free community summit on artificial intelligence Sunday in Queens, bringing together journalists, technologists and civic leaders to explore how AI can better serve local communities.

The event, titled “AI for the People: A Community Summit,” will run from noon to 3 p.m. at the William Fox Amphitheater inside the Museum of the Moving Image.

Organizers say the summit is designed to make artificial intelligence more accessible and practical, with a focus on civic engagement, local news and community impact. The program will feature live demonstrations, panel discussions and hands-on sessions aimed at helping attendees understand and use emerging technologies.

A keynote address will be delivered by Anthony Shorris, a partner at McKinsey.

The event will also include an “AI for Good” civic innovation showcase featuring organizations such as Lightshed.io, Citizen Media Group and Greenpointers, highlighting how AI tools are being used to strengthen local storytelling and public participation.

A panel discussion titled “AI for the People” will examine how technology is shaping access to information and representation in communities. Speakers include Tazin Khan, CEO and founder of Cyber Collective; Sonny Messiah Jiles, CEO of Defender Network; and Simon Galperin, CEO of Community Information Cooperative and executive editor of The Jersey Bee. The session will be moderated by S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of Epicenter NYC and URL Media.

Additional sessions will focus on explaining common AI terminology, offering expert Q&A opportunities and addressing online safety, including how to identify scams, deepfakes and data privacy risks. Organizers say the programming is intended for a broad audience, from those new to AI to those already experimenting with the technology.

The event is free and open to the public, with registration available online.