
Digital Hollywood: The AI & Entertainment Summit
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
3 – 3:50 PM Eastern Time Zone
Session IV: A Virtual Event
Virtual Humans & Conversational AI + Intelligence = Unique Levels of Complexity
While other panels might focus on “Virtual Humans as Performers and Internet Personalities,” our exploration will dive deeper into the realms of “Agentic Complexity” or “Deep Synthetic Intelligence.” We'll discuss how these virtual entities are not just designed for interaction but are imbued with 'Computer Intelligence' that allows them to mimic human emotion, personality, and expressions, both verbal and vocal, engaging in conversational exchanges that are remarkably human-like. Once a “Virtual Human” achieves this level of conversational maturity, akin to that of a seasoned human, their integration into our daily lives becomes inevitable. Imagine them Taking Center Stage as an ‘Actor in a Serious Film Project or Animation,’ or serving as a Virtual Human Co-Pilot in education, to becoming a colleague at work, or a companion in research and creative pursuits. The implications are vast. This session promises to uncover the limitless possibilities when AI transcends simple mimicry to become truly agentic, shaping our interaction with technology in ways we're only beginning to comprehend. Join us to explore this frontier where AI not only mimics but begins to understand and adapt, crafting a future where virtual humans could redefine our reality.
Speakers:
Mark Kapczynski, President, Storymill, Moderator
Andrew Klein, SVP, Creative Technology, Publicis Media
Kumaran Ponnambalam, Principal Engineer, AI, Outshift by Cisco
Elizabeth Angel,
Innovation & Creative Technology Advisor
Elizabeth Angel is an Innovation & Creative Technology Advisor combining her deep insights into technologies for transformation, and consumer experiences. A social entrepreneur with a rich background in defence, wellness, and humanitarian initiatives, Elizabeth has an expansive portfolio, advising on investments in responsible and forward-thinking technologies. She champions causes related to women in leadership, acting as President of Women in Defence and Space Alliance and Women on Board, and hosts a podcast, highlighting advancements and opportunities for women in key sectors. Elizabeth co-founded America's first hyper-realistic AI pop star interactive avatar and an AI-driven wellness solution aimed at making preventative health accessible for all. This is now being utilized by Fortune 500 companies and government organizations worldwide.
Andrew Klein, SVP, Creative Technology, Publicis Media: Andrew Klein is a digital pioneer and innovator with over a decade of experience in creating groundbreaking and award-winning brand campaigns. As SVP, Creative Technology at Publicis Media, Andrew leads the charge in creative technology and Web3 brand strategy to develop next-gen brand solutions that excite audiences worldwide. Recently, Andrew spearheaded transformative projects for industry-leading brands like Lunchables, Mastercard, and Campbell's delivering first-ever AI, Web3, and immersive experiences that set new standards in the market. His visionary work continues to redefine the future of brand engagement in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Kumaran Ponnambalam is a technology leader with 20+ years of experience in AI/ML, Data and Analytics. His focus is on creating robust, scalable AI models and services to drive effective business solutions. He is currently leading Generative AI initiatives at Outshift by Cisco, building next-generation AI innovations and products to help enterprises. In his previous roles, he has built conversational bots, ML platforms, data pipelines and cloud services. A frequent speaker at technology conferences, he has also authored several courses on the LinkedIn Learning Platform in AI/ML and Big Data.
Mark Kapczynski has a successful track record as a serial entrepreneur, chief executive, and cross-industry expert. He serves as an Executive Director of the UCLA Venture Capital Fund, helping to foster innovation connected to the university. Programs include early stage investing, mentoring, and access to Intellectual Property from university patents. Mr. Kapczynski advises startup businesses as part of the LA Chamber of Commerce’s Bixel Exchange. In this role, Mr. Kapczynski assists technology startups in Southern California to design their businesses, build out their teams and raise capital to fuel their growth. He also serves as a Venture Partner for Arrowroot Capital in Santa Monica, CA. At Arrowroot, Mr. Kapczynski focuses on investments in the SaaS market in need of growth capital to further develop their businesses. The areas that Mr. Kapczynski addresses are Big Data & Analytics, Financial Services, and Consumer Internet. Mr. Kapczynski last served as VP of Corporate Development and Strategy for Experian's consumer businesses which include leading consumer brands: Experian, FreeCreditReport.com, and ProtectMyID. Through executing on over 8 M&A transactions, Mr. Kapczynski helped to facilitate Experian’s under-lying growth and profitability. Mr. Kapczynski graduated from UCLA film school and continues to be active in multiple industry associations that span media, mobile telecom, technology, and consumer internet. He has 12 patents to his name and an additional 40 patents pending.