Spring 2026
AI Horizons Convention
Explore the world of Artificial Intelligence at PCC's AI Horizons Convention! Join us for a day of tabling fair, guest presentations, and expert panels designed to showcase AI's real-world applications, educational pathways, and career opportunities. Whether you're a beginner or looking to advance your skills, this free event is your chance to learn, connect, and discover your next steps in AI.
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Program
Event Schedule
A full day of learning, networking, and exploring AI opportunities.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Career, Programs, and Internships Fair
Explore booths from campus programs, research labs, student clubs, and industry partners offering internships and opportunities.
AI in 2026: Hype, Reality, and What Comes Next
This talk cuts through the noise on where AI actually stands in 2026 - what's working, what's overhyped, and what's coming next. Mike will share his perspective from 15 years deploying AI solutions in real-world use cases, covering topics like the gap between AI demos and production reality, how to build the skills and domain knowledge that make AI genuinely useful, and how to think about the risks that actually matter. He'll also address what the current moment means for students entering the workforce - and how to position yourself on the right side of the shift.
AI Instructor at Caltech
Bio: Mike Krause is an AI leader and instructor with 15+ years deploying real-world AI solutions across energy, healthcare, finance, and smart cities. He has cofounded several companies in the space and helped pioneer an industry-leading hybrid AI platform. A Stanford PhD and Caltech instructor, he currently leads AI at Zenith Insurance and is based in ...
Designing for AI Game Characters
This talk looks at what it takes to design interactions for AI-driven game characters that actually feel good to play with. Katie will share lessons from her work on aspects such as setting player expectations, giving players the right amount of control, and making interactions feel smooth and natural. She'll also touch on physical presence and how these characters behave in multiplayer spaces.
AI in Industry and Real-World Deployment
This panel explores how AI is applied in real-world settings across industries, highlighting the challenges of scaling AI systems, integrating them into existing workflows, and achieving measurable impact. Discussions will include lessons learned from practical deployments and insights on translating AI research into everyday solutions.
Moderator
Panelists
Principal UX Designer at NASA JPL
Bio: Krys is a principal user experience researcher and designer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she leads the Human Centered Design Group in the AI and Data Science section. She is a proud member of the team designing the future of mission operations with the Deep Space Network and Perseverance Mars Rover, and has also worked on the Mars Sam...
Principal Applied Scientist at Microsoft
Bio: Junyi is a Principal Applied Scientist at Microsoft AI, where he currently develops AI applications for Copilot. He is an expert in Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Search, and Recommendation Systems—the core technologies that allow AI to understand human language and help us find exactly what we need. Throughout his career, he ...
Technical Group Supervisor - Enterprise Software, Systems, and Modeling Engineering - at NASA JPL
Bio: Since joining JPL in 2019, Alex has supported systems and software engineering teams by strategically planning, developing, and deploying complex projects that leverage modern frameworks, tools, processes, and agile engineering practices. He is currently the Manager of the Enterprise Software, Systems and Modeling Engineering group, which provides ...
AR Engineer at Snap Inc.
Bio: Peng is an AR Engineer at Snap working on cutting-edge AR glasses Snap Spectacles. He focuses on building agentic system level experiences. Peng came from a background of game development and ML research, and his vision is to bridge AI, XR, and gamification to redefine how people connect with the world.
Careers, Research and the Future of AI
Exploring pathways into AI, this panel will highlight careers in industry and academia, opportunities in research, and the future directions shaping the field. Discussions will cover how students can get involved, the skills needed to succeed, and how emerging trends are influencing both professional and research landscapes.
Moderator
Jamal Ashraf
PCC Faculty, AI Club Advisor
Bio: Jamal Ashraf is a senior faculty member at Pasadena City College, bringing over 30 years of experience in computer science education, with expertise in Python, Java, and data structures. Passionate about integrating artificial intelligence and data science into education, he developed PCC’s Data Sci...
Panelists
Principal Software Engineer at Magnite
Bio: Gamas Chang is an experienced software engineer with decades of expertise in the entertainment and advertising technology industries, having worked with companies such as Disney, HBO, DreamWorks Animation, and Magnite. In addition to his industry experience, he is the founder of an online coding school for kids, www.ayclogic.com. Gamas is passionat...
Executive Director at Caltech CTME
Bio: Dr. Rick Hefner is the Executive Director of the Caltech Center for Technology and Management Education (CTME), where he leads the development of advanced professional and executive education programs. He has over 40 years of experience spanning aerospace, defense, communications, and health sciences, and is credited with over 200 presentations and...
AI Research Scientist (Surgical AI) at Cedars-Sinai
Bio: Rafał Kocielnik is a Research Scientist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, focusing on Human-Centered AI, including leveraging multimodal AI to advance the quality of surgical training. He earned his Ph.D. in Human-Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington, where he focused on designing engaging conversational inte...
AI LA IDEAS Program Director
Bio: Rita serves as Program Director and Founders/Investors Ambassador at AI LA, where she builds community-driven programs at the intersection of AI, education, and entrepreneurship—like the IDEAS Program, which equips college students with the tools, mentorship, and hands-on experience to explore and succeed in the world of AI and emerging tech. She p...
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Closing Remarks & Networking
Wrap-up, acknowledgements, recognition of contributors, and open networking session.
Partners
Collaborating Organizations
Made possible through collaboration with these amazing clubs and organizations.
Looking Back
Spring 2025 Convention
150+
Attendees
15
Clubs & Career Programs
9
Guest Speakers
2
Panel Discussions
Our AI Horizons Convention 2025 brought the campus community together for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration. The event featured keynotes on foundation models and responsible AI, a tabling fair with over 15 organizations, and lively panel discussions on AI and society.