From the European struggle against algorithmic control to the streets of Tbilisi where protesters face AI-powered surveillance cameras, this event brings together journalists, artists, technologists, activists and thinkers to explore how technology is rewriting the rules of power and what it means for the rest of us.
After the talks and performances, you are invited to join a traditional supra — a Georgian feast with food, wine, and shared toasts.
The event will confront the mythologies of tech innovation, mapping how European policymakers and Georgian street protesters alike navigate the global struggle against algorithmic authoritarianism, revealing a world being reimagined in real time.
Join us for an evening of aha moments, radical insights, and unexpected connections — a blueprint for reclaiming our collective agency in a world increasingly defined by invisible algorithms. There will be stories, music and great conversation about the day after tomorrow: where resistance isn’t just about fighting, but about reimagining how technology can serve human dignity, and tools of control can become instruments of liberation.
Bring your questions and ideas: your voice is part of the conversation, and we invite you to help shape where the discussion goes.
After the main program, experience our twist on one of humanity’s oldest storytelling traditions: a Georgian feast where delicious food is served alongside stories, connection, and dissent.
This project was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Culture of Solidarity Fund powered by the European Cultural Foundation.
About ZEG Network
Powered by award-winning journalism from Coda Story, ZEG’s original parent company, ZEG Network unites investigative reporters, artists, activists, and thinkers to explore the stories shaping our collective future. The natural evolution of ZEG Fest, Tbilisi’s renowned storytelling festival, this initiative creates spaces for urgent, cross-border conversations that challenge dominant narratives. Through deep journalism and creative collaboration, we work to amplify voices and ideas that reimagine what comes next for our world.
Speakers
With a concert premiere by international award-winning pianist Maria Nemtsova
With Omar El Akkad, Sinan Çankaya and Mohamedou Ould Slahi
On October 25, 2023, three weeks after the war in Gaza started, Omar El Akkad put out a tweet: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.” Together with Omar El Akkad, Sinan Cankaya and Mohamedou Ould Slahi we talk about moral failure and Western complicity.
Techdenkers with Madhumita Murgia
What to do if the algorithm considers you a criminal? With journalist Madhumita Murgia we discuss what fair, inclusive, and transparent AI looks like.
