AI & Data Leadership Talks

Khalil El-Amin

Khalil El-Amin, founder of Nichfire, is revolutionizing how businesses understand cultural trends. Nichfire, a firm leveraging AI and data to predict and analyze cultural movements, recently secured a $2.6 million funding round. Under Khalil's leadership, the company uses cutting-edge technology to identify emerging trends, helping brands craft marketing strategies that align with evolving consumer behavior. By combining AI-driven insights with cultural expertise, Nichfire is at the forefront of innovation, shaping how businesses navigate trends and stay ahead in a fast-changing market.

He also writes Lil’ Signals, a newsletter about decoding cultural trends and uncovering insights that matter.

Join the DATA and AI talk with Khalil El-Amin and Rob Richardson on Wednesday, Jan 22nd, at 6 pm.

Can Open-Source AI Counterbalance Concentrated Power?

I just returned from CES, where the big talk was about the future of AI and how it will reshape work, access, and opportunity in ways we are only starting to imagine.

On one side, there’s fear. Many worry that those already in power will use AI to cement control and widen the gap. History has shown us how technology often reinforces existing inequities, and the risk of “digital dictatorships” feels all too real.

But on the other hand, there’s hope. Open-source tools are unlocking incredible possibilities. Take DeepSeek’s R1 Lite, for example. It outperformed OpenAI’s models in key benchmarks while running on smaller resources. This proves open-source AI can level the playing field and empower creators everywhere.

I believe the future isn’t set in stone—it’s up to us to shape it. By creating more builders, expanding access, and embedding our values into these systems, we can ensure AI works for everyone.

What’s your take? Will open-source AI rise to the challenge? How do we ensure AI drives equity, not exclusion?

Let’s keep building and disrupting for good.

Learn About MidwestCon 2025

MidwestCon 2025: Where Innovation Meets Inclusion
Mark your calendars! MidwestCon 2025 will take place this September. It will bring innovators, policymakers, and visionaries together to ensure that emerging technologies like AI remain accessible and human-centric.

The Disruption Now Podcast

Real Conversations That Drive Change
Looking for thought-provoking discussions on responsible AI, data, and innovation? Tune in to the Disruption Now Podcast. Each episode features changemakers working to create a more inclusive future.
🎙️Recent guest highlight: Cyrus Harbin on AI and creativity.

Keep Disrupting!

Rob Richardson, Chief Curator of MidwestCon/Founder & CEO of Disruption Now