Announcing the WTF Summit 2024 Breakout Sessions

We’re excited to see everyone on October 7th and 8th at The Information's WTF Summit. Our breakout sessions are an important part of the Summit. At this year’s event, we’ll have two sets of 35-minute breakout sessions on Tuesday, October 8th. Here’s a preview of this year’s topics.

Connected Experiences: What the Future of Smart Living Looks Like

1:15 PM

From consumer tech to robotics, hear from industry leaders about how advancements in AI, smart hardware, and connectivity are converging to reshape how we live, work and play. During the session, panelists will discuss what are the biggest challenges in developing intelligent hardware and software that can truly understand and anticipate customer needs and preferences. How will these technologies evolve to understand us better than we know ourselves and, perhaps more importantly, reshape our interactions with the world?

Confirmed speakers:

Liz Hamren, CEO of Ring, Blink, Amazon Key & Amazon Sidewalk
Dorothy Kilroy, Chief Commercial Officer, Oura
Lauren Antonoff, COO, Life360
Moderated by: Meredith Mazzilli, Editor, The Information

Mastering Startup Growth

1:15 PM

In this panel discussion, startup experts will delve into the challenges of scaling startups, particularly in an environment where capital is less available. Startup veterans and VCs will share lessons on navigating an increasingly competitive landscape while managing the pressures of tighter budgets. They will also offer practical advice on how to raise capital – including equity and debt – in a downturn and other strategies for success in scaling with financial constraints.

Confirmed speakers:

Shikha Goyal-Allain, Bay Area Market Executive & Managing Director, Innovation Economy Banking, J.P. Morgan
Lauren Cooks Levitan, President, Faire
Annie Kadavy, Managing Director, Redpoint
Moderated by Kate Clark, Deputy Bureau Chief, The Information

The GenAI Revolution, Two Years in: Reality vs Hype

2:00 PM

ChatGPT was a great forward leap in AI, but a lot of fluff and hype also muddied the waters. Turning generative AI into a transformational business technology hasn’t been without challenges. Implementing and tailoring it to a business requires impeccable data-handling practices and other skills, especially as the models themselves and the tools to harness them are evolving almost every day. In this panel, we will discuss:

Businesses that are generating more revenue or cutting costs with conversational AI—in other words, getting a positive return on their investment.
What business functions they are automating with AI and how it is impacting their hiring plans.
Security and data pitfalls of powering new generative AI features.
How to prompt organizations to adopt these new features.

Confirmed speakers:

Lenore Lang, EVP, Technology, Media & Communications, Salesforce
Paige Costello, Head of AI, Asana
Mikey Kindler, Co-founder & COO, Lighty AI
Moderated by: Stephanie Palazzolo, AI Reporter, The Information

Taking Charge of Your Health

2:00 PM

As modern healthcare systems are under strain, individuals are seeking ways to maintain health proactively—leveraging technology, personalized care, and community support to prevent illnesses before they arise. The Information’s Kaya Yurieff will sit down with Prenuvo’s Alina Ioani to discuss innovations in diagnostics and partnerships with influencers like Kim Kardashian that are transforming the way we approach healthcare. Attendees will gain insights into how women’s health outcomes are being reshaped and how prevention is being made accessible for all.

Confirmed speakers:

Alina Ioani, VP of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Prenuvo
Sarah Russell, Managing Director, Bellwether at Google X
Moderated by: Kaya Yurieff, Creator Economy Team Leader, The Information