AI, creativity, and workforce innovation will take center stage at Palm Springs summit
Lion King director Rob Minkoff headlines the two-day PS/NExT Summit, joined by Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston and AI artist Kelly Boesch.
Palm Springs will host the PS/NExT Summit 2026 — New Experiences in Technology — on June 22 and 23 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, bringing together community members, business leaders and educators to explore artificial intelligence, emerging technology and workforce development.
The event is presented by the City of Palm Springs Office of Economic Development and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Palm Springs Convention Center. It builds on the 2025 Palm Springs AI & Creativity Expo, which drew more than 500 attendees.
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Headlining the summit is Rob Minkoff, co-director of Disney’s Academy Award-winning film “The Lion King.” AI artist Kelly Boesch, known for large-scale immersive visual experiences and digital artistry, is also among the featured speakers.
Additional speakers include Emmy-nominated storyteller and author Baratunde Thurston, Philip Su, a former engineer at Meta, OpenAI and Microsoft, and artists Cristopher Cichocki and Glen Wexler.
“I’m excited to return to Palm Springs for the PSNExT Summit,” Minkoff said in a news release issued this week. “Technology and creativity have always been inextricably linked, and it feels like we’re standing at the edge of an unprecedented new era for artists and storytellers.”
The summit will feature six tracks covering topics relevant to residents, small businesses, educators and entrepreneurs, including a Local Business Vibe-a-thon innovation challenge and GenJam, a creative sprint for AI-powered film, music and visual art.
Two-day passes are available for $95, with a discounted rate offered exclusively to Coachella Valley residents. Local students and educators may attend at no cost through sponsored community access programs.
A free kick-off event is scheduled next Thursday (May 21) at 5 p.m. at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.
“PS/NExT is about ensuring our community participates in the future instead of watching it happen from the sidelines,” said Jeffrey Bernstein, Palm Springs city councilmember and chair of the Palm Springs Technology Steering Committee.
“AI is no longer just for large technology companies,” said Nona Watson, CEO of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. “PS/NExT gives local businesses practical tools and ideas they can apply immediately to save time, grow revenue and stay competitive.”
Current sponsors include Visit Greater Palm Springs, Amazon, Wintec Energy, College of the Desert, PSUSD Foundation and the Grace Helen Spearman Foundation.
Tickets, session information and speaker details are available at PalmSpringsNExT.com.
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