Stevens to Host Synthetic Narratives Conference Exploring How AI and Advancements in Immersive, Computer-Generated Environments Will Shape the Future of Storytelling
Open to the public, this two-day symposium will convene leading artists, technologists and thinkers to explore the cultural, philosophical and creative potential of this rapidly evolving field on October 24 and 25
Hoboken, N.J., October 2, 2025 – The rapid shift in the proliferation of AI tools and digital storytelling is poised to disrupt traditional modes of both art creation and consumption. Exactly what this evolution will mean for audiences and artists alike is the subject of the inaugural Synthetic Narratives conference to be held from October 24-25 at Stevens Institute of Technology. Through panel discussions, lectures, film screenings and interactive exhibits, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about this transformation and witness first-hand how innovative artists are adopting these tools. Renowned philosopher David Chalmers, who formulated the “hard problem of consciousness,” will deliver the keynote address exploring what the Apple TV show "Severance" reveals about large language models like ChatGPT.
Organized by two Stevens faculty members, Christopher Manzione and Jonah King, the two-day event begins Friday, October 24 with free public programming including a creativity workshop (1:00-5:00 PM), an art exhibition opening (5:30-8:30 PM), and an AI short film screening (6:30-8:30 PM). Saturday's ticketed programming features four expert panels and concludes with Chalmers' keynote presentation. Tickets for Saturday’s programming are available for purchase through EventBrite.
“This is a unique moment where entirely new storytelling mediums are emerging,” said artist Christopher Manzione, associate professor at Stevens. “They touch every part of the creative process and raise urgent ethical and cultural questions about creativity and authorship.”
“Creators aren’t simply adopting new AI tools, they’re inventing new ways of experiencing art and film,” added artist Jonah King, associate professor at Stevens. “This moment forces us to confront a world where pillars of meaning are constantly being rewritten.”
The organizers welcome artists, experts and the general public to join for the programming. To learn more about the featured speakers and programming, please visit https://syntheticnarratives.com/.
Schedule Summary
Friday, October 24 (Free Admission):
1:00-5:00 PM: Machine Cinema GenJam™ (Registration required. Sign up here.)
5:30-8:30 PM: Exhibition Opening
6:30-8:30 PM: AI Short Film Screening
Saturday, October 25 (Ticketed):
10:00 AM-4:30 PM: Four expert panels
5:00-6:00 PM: David Chalmers keynote
6:00-7:00 PM: Reception
All day: Art Exhibition
View a detailed agenda here: https://syntheticnarratives.com/
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark of Stevens’ education and research. Within the university’s three schools and one college, more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. Academic and research programs spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other disciplines actively advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university continues to be consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in career services, post-graduation salaries of alumni and return on tuition investment.
Media Contact
Synthetic Narratives Conference Committee
Chris Manzione and Jonah King
[email protected] & [email protected]
(201) 874-9261
https://syntheticnarratives.com/
