Palm Springs NExT

06/29/2026

PS/NExT thanks all the speakers who donated their time, experience and expertise to to the PS/NExT Summit.

Your voices help the Coachella Valley navigate this uncertain new world of new experiences in technology.

Rob Minkoff · Baratunde Thurston · Kelly Boesch · Philip Su · Dr. Eric Leroux · Anthony W. Purnel · Naomi Soto · Scott White · Jeffrey Bernstein · Davis Meyer · Val Martinez Garcia · Dr. Marcus Funchess · Edna Martinez, Ph.D. · Patrick Jacobs · Ken Buechele · Charlie Fink · Joanna Popper · Tony Ogden · Marisa "Ritzy" Estrada Rivera · Steven Stamstad · Glen Wexler · Cristopher Cichocki · Jeff Harrison · Hael Kobayashi · Mark Talkington · Lisa Flynn · Dr. Lisa Davenport · Dr. Corbyn Wild · Donielle "Donnie" Papp · Jessica Pack · Fred Grinstein · Minh Do · Louie Pecan · Deepak Subhramanian · Habib Jaffer · Beth Cooley · Jon Sukarangsan · Travis McBurney · Heidi Adams · Dr. Thomas Spiglanin · David Ambroz · Colin Wright · David Habich · Kelly Dominguez · Jonathon Garcia (DJ Limón) · Juan Manuel Rios Falcon · Dana Rios · Angela Dunning · Valli Bhavireddy · Kelly Stiles · Kent Kay · Felix Marhuenda-Donate · Kimberly Knoller · Paul Bradley Carr · Monica Monique

06/28/2026

In case you missed it, one of the most exciting presentations during PS/NExT was from Heidi Adams of BASEstud.io

What if streetlights did more than light our roads?
Solar + battery + WiFi
AI grid integration
EV charging
Resilience
Revenue

Made in Palm Springs.

Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rug4Cvwm2Y&t=7s

Stronger than steel and built to withstand fires, floods, and storms, their advanced composite poles set a new standard in infrastructure. With minimal maintenance and longer lifespans, they cut lifecycle costs and boost long-term ROI.

Each pole generates solar energy and stores it in onboard batteries—keeping lights on during blackouts and emergencies. This local energy support helps keep power flowing to homes during power failures and high-demand events.

Each pole doubles as a WiFi hotspot, creating a reliable network that stays online even during outages. It keeps people connected—whether for everyday use or emergency response.

Their poles offer Level 2 curbside EV charging—bringing convenient, revenue-generating infrastructure to neighborhoods, campuses, and commercial districts. It’s a scalable way to accelerate EV adoption where people actually park.

https://youtu.be/8Rug4Cvwm2Y?si=QI582EaI2YburRrv

What if streetlights did more than light our roads?Solar + battery...

06/28/2026

The PS/NExT Summit Survey is in your in-box!

Thank you to the sold out crowd of PS/NExT Summit. From students to seniors, from novices to professionals, from creatives to techies, from the cheerleaders to the curious, the angry, the fearful and the angry...you made PS/NExT help the Coachella Valley determine our own future.

Attendees, you will find a survey in your inbox. Please be sure to fill it out. Your feedback is important.

Speakers and sponsors, you'll also be receiving an additional survey on your experience.

We also invite you to return to PalmSpringsNext.com, where new post-Summit content has been added, including:

Relive the Art. Review the Builds. Read the Room

GALLERY 2026: Check out these first look photos from our Summit photographer David A. Lee. More photos will be added.

GET ’27 UPDATES: Be among the first to know when PS/NExT 27 registration opens, and when other post-Summit resources are released.

“Want to get involved?” let us know if you are interested in participating as a future speaker, sponsor, media partner, volunteer, or attendee email: [email protected]

06/23/2026

06/23/2026

The multi-day summit at the Palm Springs Convention Center brought together tech leaders, filmmakers, and Coachella Valley residents to explore everything from

06/23/2026

Look Ma! We’re on TV!

06/22/2026

Thank you to our sponsors! PS/NExT Summit is a non-profit event. Because of our sponsors, we were able to offer reduced passes to all Coachella Valley residents, and FREE passes for students and educators. And we have over 100 students attending! These are the ones who will shape our future.

Thank you:
City of Palm Springs
Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
Amazon
Greater Palm Springs Economic Development
Visit Greater Palm Springs
College of the Desert Foundation
Eisenhower Health
Machine Cinema
PS Resorts
Wintec Energy
Grace Helen Spearman Foundation
H3K Design
Palm Springs Disposal Services
The Dunes Hotel
The Parker Hotel
Canyon Print Shop
Engineering Resources of Southern California
Geoff Kors & James Williamson
Hot Purple Energy
Jim & Carol Egan
Riverside County of Economic Development
Drone Scope Maping
Enterprise Mobility
Enterprise Rent-a-car
Entrepreneurial Resources Center
SoCal Gas
Desert Water Agency
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Palm Springs Surf Club
Saffron Restaurant and Lounge
Conoisseur Media
Palm Springs Life
Palm Springs Post
The Desert Sun
KESQ
KGAY/Gay Desert Guide

06/19/2026

PS/NExT Summit Vibe-a-Thon! Sponsored by Greater Palm Springs Economic Development

Tomorrow is the last day to submit your real business challenge and have experts build solutions in real time.

We’re working with local businesses and organizations to surface the software and tools they’ve never had the resources to build. During the summit we’ll bring developers — both experienced and brand-new — together with the latest AI tools to rapidly prototype working software on the spot. By the end of PS/NExT we’ll showcase working concepts that could directly help businesses right here in our community.

-a-thon

06/18/2026

AI From the Ground Up — A Holistic Approach, Felix Marhuenda-Donate

PS/NExT Summit '26: New Experiences in Technology
Resident Track Session Spotlight

Felix Marhuenda-Donate, Computer Information Systems instructor, College of the Desert presents

A holistic, plain-language look at how today's AI systems actually operate. By treating AI as a complete information system, this session breaks down complex technological concepts into an accessible format. We explore the foundational building blocks of the technology to help residents build a solid, overarching understanding of what AI is and how it functions in the real world.

06/18/2026

No Permission Required — Breaking Into the Creative Economy

PS/NExT Summit '26 : New Experiences in Technology
Session Spotlight

AI is opening new doors for people who did not enter the creative industries through traditional pathways. This session features creators and builders who found their way into AI, production, storytelling, automation, and creative entrepreneurship from nontraditional backgrounds. Designed for students, recent graduates, career-switchers, local creatives, and anyone looking for a way in, the conversation will offer practical advice, personal stories, and a constructive view of what is possible now.

Joanna Popper
CEO, Laurel Beach · former Chief Metaverse Officer, CAA · XR Hall of Fame

Valli Bhavireddy
Founder, Sandlight Studios · Digital storytelling for the Coachella Valley

Louie Pecan
Founder, Bastion Harbor Studios · Lead ComfyUI educator, Machine Cinema

Monica Monique
Founder, Chain Reaction · Producer & Creative Innovation Lead

Kelly Boesch
TED speaker · 4M+ followers · 100M+ music streams

boesch