TUPELO — The Digital Innovation conference will return to Cadence Bank Arena & Conference Center in October, featuring panels on technology, business and artificial intelligence.
The second annual event, organized by MEGAPOP, a nonprofit that advocates for increased access to high speed internet in the region, will feature keynote speakers Nick Webb, a world-renowned strategist, bestselling author, and futurist, and Pablos Holman, a technology futurist, inventor with more than 70 patents and one of the most renowned hackers in the world.
“We’re bringing people who have a background, and have worked at the forefront of bringing technology to our communities,” Morgan Baldwin, president of MEGAPOP, said. “So I think it’s really exciting to hear from them.”
A variety of other experts will speak and host breakout sessions for attendees. Dr. Andrea Hickerson, dean of the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi, will discuss deepfakes and media forensics.
Two representatives involved with the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) at Mississippi State University — Dr. Daniel Carruth, associate director for Advanced Vehicle Systems, and Dr. Christopher Hudson, research engineer for Advanced Vehicle Systems — will discuss their work and showcase autonomous vehicles on site.
Other speakers include Dr. Gerard R. Gibert, co-founder of Venture Technologies; Paul Chaney, digital marketing strategist and ethical AI advocate; Betsey Smith, director of the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University; Shawn J. Wolfe, director of the Cyber Crime Division of Mississippi Attorney General’s Office; and John McDermott, director of Esports programs at the University of Mississippi.
“Now that North Mississippi is one of the most wired rural regions of America, we wanted to shift our focus to making sure the public understands where we are as far as digital technology — what’s available out there, what are some of the concerns, from cyber security to AI, and also a look at the future, what’s coming,” Baldwin said.
The conference will also include a “Splicing Rodeo,” where high school students are trained to splice fiber by Tombigbee Electric Power Association and Ole Miss technicians with a chance to earn a scholarship for Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Fiber Technician Certification Program.
Winners of the 2024 Innovate Awards, consisting of companies and organizations making strides in digital solutions, will also be announced at the event.
The Digital Innovation conference will be held on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 at the Cadence Bank Arena & Conference Center in Tupelo. Tickets are available at www.digitalinnovation.org.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
