Events

Current and Upcoming

AI + Culture

September 24, 2026
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
America/New_York
Low Library, 535 W. 116 St., New York, NY 10027 Rotunda

 

Opening Remarks

Costantza Sbokou Constantakopoulou
Endeavor Greece Chairwoman, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

Shi-Fu Chang
Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science


3:10 – 4:10 p.m. Session 1: AI + Human Development

This session will explore how artificial intelligence is redefining human relationships, civic engagement, and the design of both physical and digital environments. 

  • Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group
  • Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
  • Moderator: Fareed Zakaria, Host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, The Washington Post Columnist, and Bestselling Author

4:10 – 4:25 p.m. Keynote

Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO


4:25 – 5:25 p.m. Session 2: AI + Culture

This session will examine the future of creativity, authorship, and narrative in an era increasingly shaped by intelligent systems, drawing on insights from filmmakers, journalists, and creative technologists.

  • Anastasis Germanidis, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Runway
  • Jennifer Lee, Oscar-winning Filmmaker and Former Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios
  • Moderator: Lydia Chilton, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia Engineering; Expert in Human-Computer Interaction and AI+Design

Closing Remarks

Sarah Cole
Dean of the School of the Arts


Columbia University students are invited to participate in a moderated question-and-answer session.

Advance registration is required for in-person attendance. Registration will remain open until Friday, September 18, at noon, or until capacity is reached.

This program is cosponsored by Endeavor Greece, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Columbia University's School of the Arts.

 

Contact Information

World Leaders Forum