Hey AI LA Community,

What a way to close out the first half of the year. Last Friday, LMU's Playa Vista campus brought together founders, researchers, policymakers, and builders for our 9th Annual Responsible AI Symposium—and the conversations more than lived up to this year's theme, The Many Faces of Safety.

Below is a full recap of the day, plus four ways to keep the momentum going this July.

Last Friday, we gathered at Loyola Marymount University's Playa Vista Campus for our 9th Annual Responsible AI Symposium, focused on The Many Faces of Safety.

Tara McGrath, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California and partner at Morrison Foerster, opened the afternoon with a deep dive into how the legal and regulatory landscape is catching up to AI, and what organizations need to understand before they're in the line of fire.

In our first panel, “Building Trustworthy AI: From Research to Governance,” leaders from Circle K, The Midas Project, AE Studio, and Morrison & Foerster discussed what AI safety looks like in practice and how that work translates into policy, governance, and organizational decisions.

The policy fireside chat brought together speakers from Gibson Dunn and FourthSpace Solutions/UNHCR Innovation Fellow exploring where regulation is moving, what California's legislative activity signals for the rest of the country, and what gets missed when accountability frameworks are built without broader global input.

In the “Connection & Care: AI's Impact on Human Wellbeing” session, leaders from Newport Healthcare, JSTOR, LMU, and AI LA discussed what AI is doing to communities, families, and individuals. For millions of people, AI is already a close companion, sometimes serving as a therapist or confidant. And the panel explored what responsibility builders have in shaping what comes next in this space.

The final session “Rights, Risk, and the Future of Entertainment” gathered founders and entertainment executives from Credtent, BMG, Artlist, and LMU to explore what it looks like to navigate AI when you’re a creative, or when you work with them. The conversation spanned the full picture: likeness and voice rights, emerging compliance frameworks, and how a global music company is putting AI to work across its catalog.

The networking session that followed the talks generated strong engagement across industries—from community members in healthcare to entertainment innovators and academic researchers. The real value of these events is being in the room where experts are shaping the future of our industry. Thank you to everyone who attended. Events like this advance our mission to be LA's most influential AI community by connecting innovation with responsibility as AI reshapes how we work.

A big thank you to our sponsors Gibson Dunn, Morrison Foerster, and Loyola Marymount University for helping make these important conversations possible!

For more photos from the event, check out our LinkedIn, Instagram, and X channels.

We’re always building towards what’s next. The Life Summit and the 10th Annual Responsible AI Symposium are already in motion. If you want a hand in shaping them, join us and tell us how you want to get involved.

Wednesday, July 1, 6–8 pm | Highland Park Brewery

This event brings together professionals and enthusiasts from AI, policy, and technology to exchange ideas and explore emerging trends. Whether you’re a policymaker, technologist, researcher, or simply curious about the future of AI, all are welcome to join the conversation.

Monday, July 13, 5–7 pm | KingsRow Gastropub

​Join us for a casual evening in the heart of Pasadena! This friendly get-together is the perfect opportunity for GenAI enthusiasts, hobbyists, experts, and newcomers alike to connect, share insights, and learn from each other in an informal setting.

Saturday, July 18 - 19, 9 am–5 pm | Register to see address

​Two days to build the future of interactive AI worlds. ​Right before #SIGGRAPH2026, founders, researchers, engineers, VFX artists, filmmakers, game developers, and spatial computing pioneers come together in Los Angeles to prototype the next generation of AI-native 3D experiences.

Thursday, July 30, 6–9 pm | GYM Bar WeHo

Join StartOut and AI LA for an intimate evening of connection, conversation, and cocktails at everyone's favorite WeHo spot—GYM Bar. Whether you're building in AI, curious about the space, or just looking to meet your next collaborator, this is a low-key, high-value mixer for the queer tech and AI community in LA.

​Come for the drinks, stay for the people.

Not a member yet? Join our community to unlock this offer and gain access to a full year of events, networking, and opportunities.

These incredible events are made possible thanks to our AI LA+ members, whose support has fueled our growth. Want to help shape the future of AI LA while enjoying exclusive perks? Consider joining AI LA+ and growing with us!