Schedule & AI Showcase

Cities are where government intersects with people’s everyday lives—where services need to work and trust is earned or lost. As fiscal pressures mount, public trust erodes, and the pace of technological change accelerates, cities can no longer afford to tinker at the margins. In this opening conversation, Mayor Mike Johnston joins Jen Pahlka and Daniel Ho—two of the nation’s most influential voices on modernizing government—to explore how local governments can lead the way in embracing AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for rethinking how government works.

Spotlighting success stories from last year’s DenAI Summit, this panel explores how local governments and AI startups are collaborating to identify the right challenges for AI to address - and how to build their solutions. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of how cities like Denver are turning AI potential into public-sector results.

Moderated by:
Shannon Beckham, Founder and CEO at Chief AI

Panelists include:
Dheekshita Kumar, CEO at CivCheck
Luke Norris, VP of Platform Enablement at Granicus
Bianca Lochner, CIO at City of Scottsdale

Explore innovative AI-driven solutions from top startups and organizations who are focused on civic-related issues, with presentations from companies in Colorado and beyond.

As we harness the power of AI to drive bold and creative transformations in society, how do we ensure that empathy, kindness, lifelong learning, and accountability remain at the heart of innovation? This session with The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi will explore how civic trust can be strengthened through thoughtful design, ethical leadership, and a commitment to shared human values, offering a roadmap for balancing technological progress with moral responsibility.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a foundational skill—on par with reading, writing, and digital fluency. Just as past generations needed to master language, computers, and the internet to thrive, today’s world demands a working literacy in AI.

In this fireside chat, Aparna Chennapragada will explore why AI is no longer optional knowledge reserved for technologists, but an essential tool for every student, worker, policymaker, and community member. She’ll highlight why AI literacy is essential for digital citizenship, ethical and responsible decision-making, and the future of work.

Explore innovative AI-driven solutions from top startups and organizations who are focused on civic-related issues, with presentations from companies in Colorado and beyond.

This panel brings together some of Colorado’s most influential tech leaders to explore why they chose to build—and scale—their companies in Denver. From access to talent and capital to a culture of collaboration and public-private partnership, the conversation will spotlight the unique advantages Colorado offers to founders, VCs, and fast-growing startups. Panelists will reflect on the pivotal moments in their company journeys, what it takes to scale outside the traditional coastal tech hubs, and how they’re helping shape a thriving ecosystem in the “New West.”

Moderated By:
Chris Erickson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Range Ventures

Panelists:
Mark Frank, CEO at Sondermind
Gadalia O'Bryan, Founder & CEO, Dapple Security
Corban Tillemann-Dick, Founder and CEO of Maybell Quantum

Explore innovative AI-driven solutions from top startups and organizations who are focused on civic-related issues, with presentations from companies in Colorado and beyond.

In this fireside chat, Elaine Kamarck, who coined the concept of “reinventing government,“ joins Mayor Johnston to examine what comes next. Can AI and innovation succeed without fundamental shifts in how government is organized, staffed, and held accountable? How should cities prepare for a world where government must be both leaner and more responsive?

As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, so does the policy landscape shaping how it's used across government. This panel brings together leaders working at the federal, state, and local levels to unpack the latest laws, regulations, and frameworks guiding AI implementation. The conversation will also address growing public scrutiny and concerns over AI—particularly around data privacy, surveillance, and bias. From national standards and state legislation to local governance and agency-specific guidance, panelists will explore where alignment exists, where gaps remain, and how public sector leaders can stay ahead of emerging rules while continuing to innovate.

Moderated By:
Cris Turner, Vice President of Knowledge & Information Products, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google

Panelists:
Eric Hysen, SVP & Chief AI and Transformation Officer at SalesForce, Former Chief AI Officer at U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
Jared Polis, Governor, State of Colorado