DANIELA RUS’ The Heart and the Chip: Our Bright Future with Robots, co-written with Gregory Mone, is an overview of the interconnected fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. They argue this technology will make us more capable, productive, precise – and even more human. And in Devil in the Stack: A Code Odyssey, ANDREW SMITH shares his immersive trip into the world of coding, from the stories of logic, machine learning, and early computing to the present moment of future-defining technology.…

In Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth, DANIEL R. PORTERFIELD presents a compelling argument about the value of residential undergraduate education and its role in developing students’ growth mindsets. He argues that college helps students build the skills and self-confidence needed for lifelong discovery, creativity, mentorship, teamwork, and striving – five mindsets that are critical for thriving in today’s world. Moderated by author BENJAMIN HEROLD.   SPONSORED BY   PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MDC TECH,…

SIERRA GREER’s Annie Bot: A Novel is the story of an AI-enabled doll created to be the perfect girlfriend for her owner, Doug: She has dinner ready every night, wears outfits he hand-picks, and adjusts her libido to suit him. But when Annie begins to explore human emotions she begins to question what Doug really desires – and what she owes herself. In COLIN WINNETTE’s Users: A Novel, Miles, a lead creative at a virtual reality company,…

PAYAM ZAMANI escaped religious persecution in Iran at 16, and made his way to America as a refugee. At 28, he secured a billion-dollar IPO. But he also learned the hard way that modern capitalism can be harmful to the human soul. Blending business acumen with spiritual beliefs, in Crossing the Desert: The Power of Embracing Life’s Difficult Journeys Zamani offers a path to a new model of capitalism. Moderated by ALEJANDRO D. GONZÁLEZ, executive director of The Idea Center at Miami Dade College.…

ERNEST SCHEYDER’s The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives explores the battle between industry titans, conservationists, community groups, and policymakers over the sourcing of materials needed to power millions of devices. It’s an honest picture of what’s at stake in this fight for energy independence and the ethical implications that affect us all. Blending science, history, and literary verve, NICOLA TWILLEY’s Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet,…

With an insider perspective on the insanity of high finance and venture investing, The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble follows ALOK SAMA’s journey as chief dealmaker at the most influential technology investor in the world, SoftBank, alongside its iconic founder, Masayoshi Son. Ultimately a morality tale, The Money Trap reminds us that in life – and technology investing – more money isn’t always the answer.  The sole assistant to the billionaire founder of one of the most prestigious hedge funds in the world,…

In 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself, and Own Your Future, MAHA ABOUELENEIN draws upon her experience as a strategic communications and global branding expert, delving into essential practices such as embracing a growth mindset and reputation management in the digital age, providing transformative lessons that are both practical and empowering. Moderated by organizational psychologist and technologist NATALIA MARTINEZ-KALININA. PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MDC TECH, SCHOOL OF GLOBAL BUSINESS &…