Responsible AI Symposium 2026
Safety isn't a single problem with a single solution. It's a spectrum — from the alignment researcher stress-testing model behavior, to the actor protecting their digital likeness, to the parent wondering what AI is teaching their kid about connection and loneliness.
At the 9th Annual Responsible AI Symposium, we're examining The Many Faces of Safety — the idea that building a resilient AI future requires us to hold all of these perspectives at once. Across tracks in health, policy, media & entertainment, and safety research, we'll explore what it means to design systems, laws, and norms that protect people across every dimension of their lives.
Come prepared for a full afternoon of wall-to-wall programming — a keynote, fireside chat, and panels that will leave you with a lot to think about. We're kicking things off with open networking before the first session and closing with a dedicated networking block at the end of the day — plus an afterparty for those who want to keep the conversation going.
Agenda
1:00-1:30: Check-in and Networking
1:30-1:40: Welcome
1:40-2:00: Keynote: The Many Faces of Safety
2:00-2:50: Building Trustworthy AI: From Research to Governance
2:50-3:20: Policy Fireside Chat
3:20-4:10: Connection & Care: AI's Impact on Human Wellbeing
4:10-5:00: Rights, Risk, and the Future of Entertainment
5:00-6:00: Networking Reception
6:00-8:00: After Party Offsite
Session Descriptions
Keynote: The Many Faces of Safety: When AI systems fail — or are used to cause harm — who is responsible, and what happens next? Former U.S. Attorney and Morrison Foerster partner Tara McGrath has spent her career on both sides of that question: prosecuting cybercrime, fraud, and national security violations as head of one of the DOJ's largest offices, and now advising companies navigating enforcement, crisis, and regulatory scrutiny. She opens RAIS 2026 with a frank look at how the legal and regulatory landscape is catching up to AI — and what organizations need to understand before they're in the crosshairs.
Tara McGrath, Investigations & White Collar Defense, Partner, Morrison Foerster, Former US Attorney, Southern District of California
Building Trustworthy AI: From Research to Governance: What does AI safety mean in practice, and how does that work translate into policy, law, and organizational decisions? This track brings together researchers, engineers, and practitioners to explore the landscape of alignment and risk, open questions in the field, and how organizations are navigating AI governance under emerging regulation, from compliance and liability exposure to what responsible deployment actually requires of the companies building and using AI today.
Luis De Avila, Senior Solution Architect, Global Technology, Circle K
Brittney Gallagher, Senior Program Manager, The Midas Project
Melanie Plaza, CTO, AE Studio
Stephanie Sharron, Partner, Morrison & Foerster
Policy Fireside Chat: AI policy is being written right now — in Sacramento, Washington, Brussels, and in rooms where the communities most affected often don't have a seat. This conversation examines where regulation is actually moving, what California's legislative activity signals for the rest of the country, and what gets missed when accountability frameworks are built without broader global input. Two practitioners with very different vantage points explore the gap between compliance and equity — and what closing it might actually require.
Anisa Abeytia, Founder, FourthSpace Solutions and UNHCR Innovation Fellow
Frances Waldmann, Technology Regulatory, AI & Privacy, Partner, Gibson Dunn
Connection & Care: AI's Impact on Human Wellbeing: AI is becoming a coach, confidant, teacher, and companion for millions of people. While these technologies offer unprecedented access to support and information, they also raise important questions about dependency, identity, mental health, and trust. This conversation brings together clinical, psychological, and product perspectives to explore what AI is doing to us, why we are responding the way we are, and what responsibility builders have in shaping a future where technology supports human flourishing rather than replacing it.
Don Grant, National Advisor of Healthy Device Management, Newport Healthcare
Diba Kaya, Staff UX Researcher, JSTOR
Lauren Mansfield, AI LA Ambassador
David A. Quam, Clinical Professor of Healthcare Systems Engineering, LMU
Rights, Risk, and the Future of Entertainment: Creatives are negotiating AI on every front simultaneously — likeness and voice rights, licensing frameworks being rewritten in real time, shifting career skill sets, and how media companies are making practical decisions about AI adoption internally.
Eric R. Burgess, CEO, Credtent
Anna Ilina Semendyayeva, AI Lead, Global Catalog Recordings, BMG
Ori Winokur, Head Of Media & Entertainment Partnerships and Global Head Of Music, Artlist
Justin Trevor Winters, Co-Founder & CEO, Verified Labs and Full-Time Faculty, School of Film & Television, LMU
A special thank you to our sponsors, Gibson Dunn, Morrison Foerster, and Loyola Marymount University for helping make these important conversations possible!
Gibson Dunn, founded in Los Angeles and proud of its deep local roots, is a leading global law firm recognized for advising clients at the forefront of innovation. The firm’s AI Practice Group brings together attorneys with deep experience in technology, data, and emerging regulation to guide companies through the complex opportunities and challenges of AI. From representing global technology leaders on AI-related transactions, governance, compliance, and litigation to supporting LA–based investors, startups, and research initiatives, Gibson Dunn is committed to supporting innovative and responsible AI development. The firm actively engages with the regional innovation ecosystem—collaborating with educators, policymakers, and industry groups—to help shape a vibrant and inclusive AI community in Southern California and beyond.
Morrison Foerster helps clients turn complexity into opportunity by delivering strategic, business-focused legal counsel tailored to their most critical challenges. Combining deep industry knowledge, diverse perspectives, and a collaborative approach, the firm partners with organizations to navigate risk, drive innovation, and achieve their goals. Morrison Foerster represents leading financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and technology and life sciences innovators—from startups to global enterprises—as they grow, transform, and lead in their industries.
About AI LA
AI LA Community, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that's been building community around the responsible development and application of AI since 2016. We host over 100 events a year, including AI on the Lot, Earth Summit, Life Summit, Responsible AI Symposium, and monthly community meetups across various sectors.
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Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event should contact [email protected] with their name and contact information. We request that individuals requiring accommodations notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.