About the Talk:
Join us for our first hybrid event of 2025, hosted in San Francisco and streamed live for community members worldwide. Experience an evening where science meets creativity as we explore AI's role in transforming cosmic events into artistic expressions. NASA and Wavv will showcase their groundbreaking 2024 Solar Eclipse project—a fusion of AI technology and astronomical data that turns this celestial event into a unique artistic experience, featuring a special guest.
Carol Reiley, known as the Mother of Robotics, presents her Soundbox, SF Symphony installation on the OpenAI Forum Stage. Experience classical music through the perspective of a roboticist in this one-of-a-kind performance.
Kick off the evening with a casual mixer featuring dinner and drinks—an opportunity to connect with fellow attendees. A special guest performance sets the stage for an engaging discussion moderated by OpenAI audio research scientist Christine McLeavey. The night concludes with live musical activations and dessert, blending creativity and technology in a captivating finale.
Wavv, in collaboration with NASA, created an immersive AI-powered experience for the 2024 solar eclipse. The project integrates ChatGPT API for real-time astronomical narration, embedding API to align astronomical data with musical emotions, and fine-tuning API to customize domain-specific content. This fusion of science and art allows audiences to witness the eclipse in a whole new way—connecting with the cosmos through personalized music and storytelling.
About the Speakers:
Ivan Linn, Founder / CEO @ Wavv
Ivan Linn is CEO of Generative AI music platform Wavv, the creator of the world's first large music language model: Musica. He is known for his work in the music production of video games in the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series. He is also the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Assassin's Creed Symphony World Tour, winning a Grammy in 2023. Linn is a member of the National Arts and Sciences Recording Academy and ASCAP. Wavv is transforming music creation with its advanced generative AI technology. "Musica," the first large language model designed for music, democratizes the process of music creation, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of expertise. This technology is set to exponentially increase music content, positioning Wavv as the largest owner and provider of music assets globally.
Christine McLeavey, Audio Researcher @ OpenAI
Christine McLeavey manages the Exploratory Audio Research team at OpenAI. The team works on current and future versions of ChatGPT's advanced voice mode, and they also created the well loved open source models Whisper and CLIP. She previously worked on music generation research, creating MuseNet and collaborating on Jukebox. In 2018, she participated in OpenAI's scholars and fellows programs, as she transitioned careers from professional classical pianist to researcher. She holds a masters degree in piano from Juilliard, and a bachelor's in physics, graduating valedictorian of Princeton University.
Carol Reiley, AI Robotics Entrepreneur and Co-Founder @ DeepMusic.AI
A serial entrepreneur, scientist, and engineer with over 20 years of academic/industry experience in artificial intelligence and robotics (nickname: Mother of Robots). Strong leader and innovator who focuses on building teams, building trust, and building products. Strives for efficiency, high impact, and getting things done. Previously co-founded, was President, and board member of drive.ai, a self-driving car startup with the Stanford AI lab that was acquired by Apple. Built an 8 person company to 200+ employees over 4 years raising over $77M funding. Cofounded multiple startups and launched several robotics products in highly regulated industries. Creative collaborator of the SF Symphony, Board/Advisor of several AI companies. Also active in diversity outreach events that advocate for understanding bias in AI. Work profiled in NYTimes, Harper's Bazaar, Wired, The Atlantic, etc. In 2018 was on the Top Women Founders in Tech and AI lists from Forbes, Inc, Quartz. Educated at Johns Hopkins University and Santa Clara University specializing in Haptics and Computer Vision/AI. Taught two new short courses as an instructor at JHU. Published over a dozen papers at top conferences and inventor of over 8+ patents.Research interests are on the development of intelligent robotic systems that can aid humans in performing skillful tasks more effectively. Application areas include surgery, industrial robotics, remote exploration, creative expression, and education.
Joe Minafra, Lead for Innovation and Technical Partnerships @ NASA Ames Research Center
Joe Minafra has been an integral part of NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley since November 1999, serving as the Lead of Innovation, Technical Partnerships, and Collaborative Technology Specialist for the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). In his role, Joe supports a range of missions, including NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. He established and oversees the SSERVI Regolith Lunar Lab and Testbeds, which provide a controlled environment for lunar surface exploration and promote collaboration among national and international research teams. Additionally, Joe is deeply committed to education and public outreach. He participates in the Journey Through the Universe 2024 program and makes classroom visits to encourage students in STEM fields. His professional background encompasses regolith and meteoritic studies, biology, and project management. Before embarking on a career in science and technology development, Joe was a chef in Boston, showcasing his diverse skill set and interests. With over 25 years of experience, Joe effectively bridges the gap between government work and commercial enterprises, enhancing NASA's mission through educational initiatives. He has also produced nine tactile books for the blind, titled "Getting a Feel for Eclipses," which aim to make science education more accessible. Joe is passionate about sharing his experiences at NASA and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Kim Old, Chief Commercial Officer @ Emotiv
Kim Old is the Chief Commercial Officer at EMOTIV, where she leads efforts to integrate neurotechnology into everyday life and drives innovation in the brain-computer interface space. Over the past decade, she has built a career at the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and impactful innovation, focusing on translating cutting-edge research into practical, meaningful solutions. As a leader in the neurotechnology industry, she is dedicated to advancing ethical, accessible tools that address cognitive health, education, and mental wellness. At EMOTIV, she spearheads initiatives that empower individuals and organizations to harness neurotechnology for a deeper understanding of brain health and human potential. Kim is passionate about fostering collaborations and driving advancements that leverage AI and neuroscience to transform lives. She looks forward to connecting with like-minded innovators to shape the future of this exciting field.
In Sun Jang, First Violinist @ San Francisco Symphony
In Sun Jang is a First Violinist at the San Francisco Symphony. A top prize winner at the International Henryk Szeryng Violin Competition, she has appeared as a soloist with the New World Symphony, Puchon Philharmonic, Nanpa Festival Orchestra, and Santa Cruz Symphony. She has collaborated closely with many of the world's leading musical artists such as MTT, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Zakir Hussain, Kanye West, and Sting, and her numerous engagements as a chamber musician have taken her to renowned venues in Asia and America including Carnegie Hall, Miyazaki Prefectural Arts Center, and Seoul Art Center. As a member of the San Francisco Symphony, she has toured frequently to Europe and Asia's most celebrated concert halls, and has recorded extensively with the orchestra on multiple Grammy Award winning albums. A dedicated educator, she is the first violin coach for the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. A native of Seoul, Korea, She began studying violin and piano at age four. She graduated from Seoul National University, the Juilliard School, and the New England Conservatory, and earned a certificate in composing and producing electronic music from the Berklee School of Music.
Daniel Stewart, Music Director @ Santa Cruz Symphony
Daniel Stewart is a conductor, violist, composer, and educator, currently in his 10th season as Music Director of the Santa Cruz Symphony, where his leadership and reputation have earned international acclaim and attracted world class collaborators such as Yuja Wang. He has conducted many leading orchestras including the Metropolitan Opera, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Hessischer Rundfunk and Frankfurt Opern, Boston Ballet, and the New World Symphony. As a viola soloist, principal violist, and chamber musician, he has performed in over 40 countries on many of the world’s great stages including Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein, Het Concertgebouw, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Mariinsky, Teatro Colón, Sydney Opera House, and Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Past positions as an educator include four years of co-directing the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Development Program, coaching the opera departments and orchestras of the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute, and Aspen Music Festival, and a recently completed five year tenure as Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. As a guest lecturer he has given presentations at schools including Stanford, the SF Conservatory of Music, and UC Santa Cruz. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Indiana University School of Music, and was awarded the Aspen Music Festival’s Conducting Prize. For more details and examples, including his compositions and arrangements, please visit danielstewartmusic.com
