Conference News: TechCrunch covers TechCrunch Deal; A Sportier TED; ODSC’s CFP
TechCrunch’s Time: It was announced last month that Yahoo signed a deal to sell TechCrunch to media investment firm Regent, which previously acquired PCWorld, Macworld, and TechAdvisor. According to TechCrunch’s own coverage of the deal, it is “structured to ensure minimal disruption to TechCrunch’s operations…In San Francisco and New York, we’ll be moving into new offices leased by Regent. And Yahoo isn’t severing ties entirely — it’s keeping a small interest in the company.” StrictlyVC brand is part of the deal so once the acquisition is complete, TechCrunch and StrictlyVC will operate under TC Media International, LLC’s terms of service, privacy policy, etc. Otherwise they do not expect changes to the conferences or event lineup.
TED Gets Sporty in Indy: This spring TED announced its first sports-focused event in TEDSports, set to run 9-11 Sep at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis. Held in collaboration with Indiana Sports Corp and Next Practice Partners, the inaugural event hopes to inspire attendees to impact the world through sports. TED Chief Program & Strategy Officer Monique Ruff-Bell explains, “Sports have always been about more than physical excellence – they embody strategy, innovation, and human potential. This inaugural event in Indianapolis will explore the powerful intersection of athletics, science, technology, and social impact, bringing together thought leaders who are revolutionizing how we think about sports and sparking conversations that extend far beyond the playing field into our daily lives.”
Submission Opportunity: Since 2015, ODSC has been an essential event for AI and data science practitioners, business leaders, and those reskilling into AI. It offers cutting-edge workshops, hands-on training, strategic insights, and thought leadership. In 2025 the event will run concurrently with GenAI Summit from 28 – 29 October in Burlingame, CA, including 2 days of sessions on technologies such as LLMs, AI for Robotics, and Generative AI. If you have a session idea, submit before the 26 May deadline. According to the CFP: “An ODSC speaker is someone with proven data science expertise and a strong ability to present the latest languages, tools, and models used in data science and AI for business. These individuals are committed to sharing innovative ideas and contributing to the growth of open source software.”
Lunchtime Learning: Web Summit held its second Qatar event earlier this year, and – as reported by Al Jazeera’s Colin Baker – the event grappled with questions over the future of AI amid “companies and investors that are changing that landscape more rapidly than we expected.” Check out session videos from Web Summit Qatar available for streaming here. The 2025 summit included conversations like The Great AI debate, which explored the ethical implications of AI’s breakneck development; Everything everywhere all at once, examining the future of commerce and creativity; and Beyond chatbots on how AI will redefine global trade.
Coming Up Next Week: The 28th edition of the Milken Institute Global Conference convenes leaders in health, finance, business, technology, philanthropy, industry, and society under the 2025 theme “Toward a Flourishing Future,” when it’s held 4-7 May in at the Beverly Hilton Los Angeles. From 5-7 May, MIT Technology Review EmTech AI offers “rare access to AI’s top minds, direct engagement with speakers, and the chance to shape the conversations defining AI’s future.” EmTech AI was previously EmTech Digital, and the name change reflects the prevalence of AI breakthroughs. Speaking of AI – Fortune Brainstorm: AI London gets underway 6 May and explores how organizations are deploying and scaling AI beyond “mere experiments.” Hailing itself “the international festival of HR,” UNLEASH America runs 6-8 May in Las Vegas, built on the 2025 theme of “Courageous Leadership” to explore how the people function is powered by artificial, human, and talent based insights. And from 6-7 May, Women in Tech USA will run as event under the umbrella of International Telecoms Week in Washington, DC.