tbd/con update #2: review crew closes end of May, pitches are open
a free virtual conference, Sept. 23-24, 2026. This is the first time we’re hosting it.
👋 Hello,
We are four organizers with no ulterior motives other than wanting to have some unconventional conversations that we haven’t seen elsewhere.
The premise is that AI isn't arriving cleanly and the conversations about it shouldn't be either. We can stop pretending that we have everything figured out and instead congregate and compare notes.
What we want to do
We want to be part of conversations we haven't heard yet. We want to be surprised. We want sessions where someone walks in confident and walks out less sure, in a good way. We want disagreement that goes somewhere.
What we don't want
We don't want panels that perform consensus, not sessions that double as promotion. We don't want vendor pitches, keynotes from on high, the comfortable version of any of this.
So far, you seem to want the same: honest conversations that hold both possibility and doubt, that make room for skepticism about what none of us has figured out yet.
We're grateful you're here. If you know someone else who'd want in, whatever their corner (journalist, technologist, researcher, or otherwise), send them our way.
Where we are right now, and what comes next:
We’re gathering interest for attending, pitching sessions and the review crew.
Review crew sign-ups are open through the end of May.
The more, the better: If you've watched AI develop up close and have views about what makes a session worth a slot, that's the qualification.
If you’re interested, here’s the commitment: One kickoff sync June 17, async review work runs July-August, and you’d get credit on the program.
- June into July: pitches keep coming in. If you have a session, prototype, workshop, panel, or conversation in mind, this is the window to pitch.
- July-August: reviews.
September 23-24: tbd/con!
Three asks (if you haven’t already):
- If you want to be on the review crew: ask.gazzetta.xyz/tbdcon26 by May 31.
- If you have a session idea: same link, the form is open.
- If you know someone who'd bring an unexpected perspective: please forward this.
Our networks alone won't get the program where it needs to be. Please make it yours and spread it!
Next update in 2-3 weeks.
Patrick, Madison, David and Zig
P.S.: Questions? Ideas? -> tbdcon@gazzetta.xyz