Sparknify Human vs. AI Tech Fair and Film Festival

Experience a high-energy, hands-on celebration where cutting-edge technology meets human creativity. Engage with groundbreaking ideas, interactive exhibits, and a vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement. Step into the future and celebrate the power of innovation in a way that is engaging, inspiring, and unforgettable!

🚀 Human vs. AI Film Showdown – Watch and vote whether a film was created by AI or a human.

🏆 Unveil the winner of the Sparknify Humanity Award — Will AI capture the essence of humanity this year?

💡 Meet Game-Changing Innovators – Connect with frontier technology startup founders and tech visionaries in a dynamic setting.

🤖 Experience the Future – Explore next-gen robots, AI-driven creations, and handcrafted human ingenuity.

🎭 Live Tech-Infused Performances – A mesmerizing fusion of art, technology, and interactivity.

🍔 Indulge & Immerse – Enjoy unique food and drinks while soaking in the festival atmosphere.

Program Guide

Human vs. AI Tech Fair & Film Festival

Free Tickets

May 17, 2025 Saturday 11am-7pm

Plug & Play Tech Center

440 N. Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Host

Sparknify

Co-host

Collaboration

See ToborLife's robots in action at the event! watch them move, interact, and amaze. The future is here — Want one at home? Use code TOBORSPARKNIFY5 for a special offer at toborlife.ai

Film Festival

Make Your Guess. Film by Human or AI?

Featuring 14 short film finalists from the 2025 Human vs. AI Film Festival — half made by human filmmakers, half generated by AI — you become the judge. After each screening, guess who created it and vote for the Audience Favorite Award. Every vote enters you for a chance to win exciting prizes!

Sparknify Humanity Award

Awarded by a distinguished panel of judges, the coveted Sparknify Humanity Award will recognize the filmmaker who most compellingly portrays the human spirit — whether produced traditionally or AI generated — serving as a milestone in AI’s creative journey or a tribute to human resilience and imagination.

Best Picture Award

Honoring excellence in traditional filmmaking, this award recognizes outstanding storytelling, visual artistry, and cinematic craftsmanship that together define truly exceptional cinema.

Best AI-Generated Award

This award honors generative AI filmmakers whose work demonstrates exceptional creativity and technical mastery, showcasing AI’s full potential to transform cinematic storytelling.

Tech Talks

Gain valuable insights and invest the future

Gain insights from startup founders and big tech visionaries leading advancements in AI, robotics, and automation. Don’t miss this opportunity to network, forge valuable connections, and explore investments shaping the future of innovation.

SambaNova
Developer Advocate
Justin Woo

Amotions
CEO
Pianpian Xu

Helen Chu
Comedian
Filmmaker

ToborLife
CEO
David Schulhof

Vimmerse
CEO
Basel Salahieh

Descript
VP of Product
Laura Burkhauser

Resemble.ai
COO
Saqib Muhammad

M9Market
CEO
Saqib Muhammad

Panel Discussion:
The Future of Reality
When AI Creates Reality: Perception, Trust, and Creativity

Moderated by Pranali Ubale, host of the Passionate Pulse Podcast and a sharp cultural analyst, this panel explores how generative AI is reshaping — and at times distorting — our understanding of what is real. As synthetic media becomes increasingly convincing, the conversation delves into its impact on perception, trust, and the creative process. Panelists include Vladimir Karishev, Head of Partnerships at Higgsfield.ai, pioneers in AI-generated video; Kate Polet, an AI filmmaker and YouTuber whose work investigates the shifting boundaries of machine-made cinema; and Parinda Joshi, a seasoned screenwriter and author whose storytelling spans novels and screenplays, bringing a human voice to the evolving narrative landscape.

Panel Discussion:
The Future of Storytelling
AI and the Future of Storytelling, Identity, and Humanity

Moderated by actress Vanessa Born, this thought-provoking panel explores how AI and immersive technologies are reshaping the boundaries of storytelling, identity, and reality. Panelists include Kerri Wood Einertson of SAG-AFTRA, three-time Emmy-winning director Bernie Su, and Suhel Parekh, Principal Product Lead at Microsoft, as they examine what it means to protect the human experience in an increasingly programmable world.

Panel Discussion:

The Future of Authenticity
Telling Human Stories in the Age of Machines

Moderated by Leslie Xiong, a film curator and champion of Asian independent cinema, explores what authenticity means in an era where faces, voices, and memories can be artificially generated. As AI blurs the line between lived experience and algorithmic imitation, the panel examines how truth and cultural identity can be preserved. Panelists include Qilin Su, a machine learning engineer and comedian exploring AI and storytelling; Mengyu Dong, a Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholar and journalist focused on responsible AI and combating misinformation.

Join CEO Phil Chacko and CTO Venk Subramanian of The Possible Company for a hands-on workshop on turning your ideas into compelling short-form videos. Learn practical tools and creative frameworks to identify transformative ideas and rapidly bring them to life—often in minutes. In the spirit of “You tell a story, we bring it to life,” this session is perfect for founders, technologists, and creatives ready to turn vision into reality.

Vendor Fair

Cutting Edge Tech and Handcrafted Goods

Step into a vibrant tech fair where innovation and craftsmanship collide — featuring cutting-edge demos from tech vendors alongside handcrafted creations from passionate makers. Discover inspiring stories from startup founders pushing the boundaries of AI, and hear firsthand from artisans whose work celebrates the enduring power of human creativity.

Petoi, a leader in lifelike bionic robot pets, will showcase its latest innovation — the Bittle X — at the Human vs. AI Tech Fair. This palm-sized, open-source robotic dog features voice control, programmable behaviors, and an optional arm for interactive tasks. Built on the OpenCat platform and supporting Scratch, Python, and C++, Bittle X offers a hands-on introduction to robotics, coding, and AI for learners and enthusiasts alike.

Performances

Music & Dance in front of our Smiley Cloud

Step outside and experience the energy of the outdoor stage, set dramatically in front of our iconic gigantic smiley cloud. Throughout the day, enjoy a vibrant lineup of live performances — from dynamic music sets to captivating dance showcases — that celebrate creativity, movement, multiculturalism, and human expression in all its forms.

Food & Drinks

Grab Your Meal and Enjoy the Atmosphere

Indulge in a culinary experience with some of the finest vendors serving a wide range of unique and delicious food and drinks. Treat yourself to an unforgettable lunch and dinner filled with flavor and ambiance— grab your meal and enjoy the short films by either human or AI.