TIM Talks
MIT-style deep dives that turn frontier research into deployable playbooks.
Learning · Sharing · Celebrating
ThePrograms
One high-signal day on the main stage — plus four signature programs that recognize breakthrough work, spotlight the boldest founders, challenge builders, and bring research from the lab into the wild.
The Main Stage Experience
Main ConferenceFormats
One high-signal day, five ways to learn — thought leadership, hands-on practice, and real-world AI you can see and question.
See the 2026 AgendaFireside Chats
Unscripted, intimate conversations with the people building the frontier.
Panels
Multi-perspective debates that pressure-test the ideas shaping AI.
Workshops
Roll-up-your-sleeves sessions with frameworks you can ship on Monday.
Live Demos
Working systems on the floor — real-world AI you can see in action.
Signature Programs
Four experiences, one mission
Beyond the main stage, four signature programs set the MIT AI Conference apart — recognizing breakthrough work, spotlighting the boldest founders, challenging builders, and bringing research from the lab into the wild.
Recognition
AI Awards
Honoring those who serve the nation and the world.
Honoring the people whose work embodies MIT's mission to serve the nation and the world — from lifetime achievement to the rising stars redefining what AI can do.
Recognizes innovative work of individuals and groups who exemplify MIT's mission to serve the nation and the world through science and technology. Four awards celebrate the full arc of impact — from career-defining breakthroughs to the under-35 builders just getting started.
4award categories
20+past honorees
10thannual edition
Lifetime Achievement Award
An individual who has already achieved several lifetimes' worth of breakthroughs, founding or funding new innovations, and launching new industries.
Sandy Pentland
MIT Media Lab
Professor · PhD '82
Robert Metcalfe
Father of Ethernet · 3COM
Founder & CEO · SB '68
Mark P. Gorenberg
Zetta Venture Partners
Founding Partner · SB '76
Ray Stata
Analog Devices
Co-Founder · SB '57, SM '58
Hemant Taneja
General Catalyst
Managing Director · SB '97, SM '99
Better World Award
An individual who demonstrates a real commitment to building a diverse and inclusive tech community and making a Better World.
Joy Buolamwini
Algorithmic Justice League
Founder · SM '17, PhD '22
Aileen Lee
AllRaise · Cowboy Ventures
Founder · SB '92
Sal Khan
Khan Academy
Founder · SB '98, MNG '98
Ramesh Raskar
MIT Media Lab
Professor
Fontini Christia
MIT
Professor
Marzyeh Ghassemi
MIT
Professor
Trailblazer Award
Recognizes individuals for their inspirational breakthroughs and for founding new fields of study.
Dina Katabi
MIT CSAIL
Professor · SM '98, PhD '03
Greg Brockman
OpenAI
Founder · '13
Drew Houston
Dropbox
Founder & CEO · SB '05
Kyle Vogt
Cruise · Twitch
Founder · SB '08
Shishir Mehrotra
Grammarly
CEO · SB '00, MNG '00
Rising Star Award
It's never too early to invent groundbreaking technology, start a company, or bring innovations to market. Recognizes someone under 35 already building solutions to create a new world.
Wardah Inam
Overjet
Founder & CEO · SM '13, PhD '16
Leila Pirhaji
ReviveMed
Founder · PD '16, PhD '16
Sampriti Bhattacharyya
Navier
Founder & CEO · PhD '17
Kanjan Qiu
Imbue
Founder + CEO · SB '12, MNG '13
Chazz Simms
Wise Systems
Founder + CEO · SB '13, MNG '14
Guy Satat
MIT Media Lab
Researcher · PhD '18
Founder Spotlight
AI Idol
Where innovative startups pitch.
The boldest AI founders pitch live to a room of investors, operators, and engineers. Part competition, part talent magnet — the fastest way to find what's next.
AI Idol offers innovative startups a unique platform to present their companies and mingle with a high-caliber audience of VCs, angel investors, strategic partners, corporate investors, and industry experts. Alumni of the stage have gone on to raise from the leading names in venture.
$200M+raised by past companies
8+startups showcased
35+investors in the room
Companies that pitched — and went on to raise
RealWearRaised $100M
SkylineRaised $25M
UnifyIDRaised $20M
VoiceaRaised $20M
Dashbot.ioRaised $6M
Fireflies.aiRaised $5M
ProvenSeed Round
Subtle MedicalSeed Round
In front of the leading names in venture
Andreessen HorowitzSequoiaY CombinatorNEAGreycroftGoogle VenturesSalesforce VenturesSamsung NEXTQualcomm VenturesBessemer VenturesBattery VenturesCanaanBaidu VenturesBreyer CapitalMicrosoft VenturesCisco InvestmentsJP MorganFusion FundData CollectiveFJ LabsRuna CapitalTLV PartnersWorkday VenturesMindset VenturesAccelepriseBose Ventures
Build
AI Hackathon
One week from concept to launch. Build with the best of AI.
MIT builders — from freshmen to postdocs — team up to push AI's boundaries. Top teams earn a spot on the main stage alongside the startups defining the field.
A select group of builders push the envelope of what's possible, come together, build AI projects, and present at the conference. They learn from each other and the best in the industry, target impactful problems and technical challenges, and launch a real project with an amazing team.
1 weekconcept to launch
Main stageshowcase for top teams
Mentorsfrom across the industry
The build journey
- 01
Apply & Select
Builders apply; a select group is invited to join the week.
- 02
Team Up
Form an amazing team around an impactful problem worth solving.
- 03
Build Week
Push the envelope with mentorship from the best in the industry.
- 04
Showcase Day
Launch a real project and present on the conference main stage.
Research
Research Slam
From the lab and into the wild.
Cutting-edge research meets rapid-fire excitement. Researchers showcase breakthrough concepts for real-world problems — and connect with the industry ready to back them.
The Research Slam is an opportunity to introduce research in a quick and fun format to our conference attendees. Academics and researchers present topics and propose viable solutions to the problem, question, or goal — then meet the operators and investors who can help take it further.
Rapid-firepresentation format
Lab → wildfrom research to impact
Industryconnections for every presenter
Research areas we welcome
Healthcare & Bio AIRobotics & AutonomyLLMs & AgentsAI Safety & AlignmentComputer VisionAI for ClimateHuman–AI InteractionFoundations & Theory
Oct 17, 2026 · Mountain View, CA