Inventor and futurist Pablos Holman kicks off Techonomy 25 with a rallying cry to rediscover the frontier spirit that built the modern world. He argues that today’s obsession with AI optimization—endless tweaks to ads, feeds, and metrics—has replaced genuine invention. Holman makes the case for a return to “deep tech”: bold, physical, world-changing innovation in energy, climate, and health. Expect provocation, practical optimism, and a reminder that true progress comes from human audacity, not algorithmic efficiency.
Participants
Why Wyclef Jean Thinks AI Will Create More Great Artists — Not Fewer
Worth Media's Dan Costa & Wyclef Jean on the future of music, AI, financial inclusion, and the democratization of creativity.
Pepperdine’s Pete Peterson: Why Californians Are “Voting With Their Feet”
Pete Peterson, Dean of Pepperdine's School of Public Policy, on higher education, politics, AI, innovation, and California’s competitiveness.
The Future of Money Will Look Nothing Like Today with Milken Institute’s Nicole Valentine
Nicole Valentine of the Milken Institute joins Dan Costa at the Milken Global Conference 2026 to discuss the rapid evolution of fintech, stablecoins, AI, and digital assets. The conversation explores the impact of the GENIUS Bill, why major institutions are embracing crypto infrastructure, and how AI-powered “agentic commerce” could transform payments and financial services over […]
KKR’s Pete Stavros: Why Employee Ownership Could Fix Corporate America
At the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference, Dan Costa speaks with Pete Stavros, Co-Head of Global Private Equity at KKR, about employee ownership, AI-driven inequality, and why corporate America may need a completely new relationship with workers. Pete explains how KKR has rolled out ownership programs across 85 companies and 200,000+ employees — leading to […]
