Mind, Machine, and Meaning: CultTech 2024 Paves the Way for Cultural Innovation

This year, Vienna witnessed a groundbreaking event that marked a significant step in bridging culture with technology—the inaugural CultTech Summit. Aimed at redefining the intersection of these fields, the summit brought together over 650 participants from more than 35 countries, uniting artists, technologists, investors, and thought leaders under one roof to engage in thoughtful dialogue on reshaping the cultural landscape.

Organized by the CultTech Association, a nonprofit founded in 2021, the summit was designed to establish CultTech as an emerging industry focused on exploring how technological innovation can elevate cultural production, consumption, and preservation.

RED-EYE magazine was privileged to co-host one of the summit’s standout sessions, the panel discussion titled "Beyond the Runway: Revolutionizing Storytelling in Fashion and Media." Joined by visionaries such as Veronica D'Souza, Yiqin Zhu of HGVIS, and moderated by Sergiu Ardelean from Artivive, we dove deep into discussions about fashion’s transformation at the hands of technology.

The conversation explored the profound impact of AI and immersive media on fashion as a cultural force, underscoring how brands and creators are increasingly called to move beyond surface-level aesthetics to produce meaningful storytelling that resonates deeply.

Throughout the summit, a recurrent theme was the responsible use of technology in cultural creation, with participants advocating for an ethical, inclusive approach. The CultTech Association emphasized the importance of educational initiatives and research, particularly as we enter an age where AI is playing an increasingly vital role in creative fields.

As Dimitry Aksenov, founder of the CultTech Association, stated, "Innovations in technology, with AI being the most prominent at the moment, will substantially transform the cultural sector that has been relatively untouched by tech so far." He highlighted CultTech as a new economic opportunity that positions Europe at the forefront of this shift, with potential to lead globally in both technological development and cultural preservation.

The event had a forward-thinking ethos, as a matter of fact the CultTech Summit was one of the rare tech events that achieved a gender-balanced audience, with a 50:50 male-to-female participant ratio. This diversity was also reflected in the summit’s array of speakers, who brought rich perspectives from multiple disciplines, including art, finance, technology, and academia.

Among the 70 speakers were Kave Bulambo, Founder and CEO of Black in Tech, Rashid Adetokunbo Okikiola Owoyele, Managing Partner and Transdisciplinary DesignerTransekt.Agency, Michael Lynch, Executive Director of Culture & Entertainment at NEOM; Thomas Steffens, Co-Founder of Primephonic; and Gerfried Stocker, CEO of Ars Electronica, Maddy Wang Renström, Director of Machine LearningKing/Microsoft and many other brilliant speakers.

These leaders shared their visions of how culture and society might evolve through responsible innovation.

An important highlight was the CultTech Social Impact Award, co-hosted by CultTech Association and Ars Electronica. Out of 147 submissions, the award went to Escape Fake, an augmented reality (AR) game designed as a citizen’s project to improve media literacy. This initiative exemplifies how technology can foster educational outcomes and is evolving into a global community of educators passionate about media literacy.

The CultTech Summit served as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrating technology with intentionality and respect. In forging a new path for creators and cultural practitioners, the summit laid the groundwork for what Aksenov described as “an outstanding economic opportunity for Europe.”

With support from New Renaissance Ventures and the CultTech Accelerator, the CultTech Association aims to continue its partnerships with leading institutions like Ars Electronica, Vienna UP!, and the European Forum Alpbach to drive research, investment, and educational initiatives that push boundaries without compromising cultural integrity.

For those interested in exploring the speakers and the diverse array of discussions that took place, more details and images from the event can be found here.

As we collectively move toward an AI-enhanced future, it becomes crucial to approach technological advancements with caution and mindfulness.

The conversations at CultTech 2024 stressed that the act of creation is, at its core, a responsibility. This summit was a beacon for how technology can amplify cultural expression, serving as a powerful reminder that culture, even in a digital world, must remain rooted in human values and ethical considerations.

The CultTech Summit showcased the power of innovation when directed toward meaningful, inclusive, and culturally enriching purposes, setting the stage for a future where culture and technology are intersecting and co-evolving in harmony.

Text by Gloria Maria Cappelletti

Photos by Alexander Antonov and Viktoria Nazarova

Courtesy of CultTech Association

Further Information https://www.culttechsummit.com/

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