UNF AI expert among speakers of TEDxJacksonville 2026, hosted at UNF

The University of North Florida will host the 2026 TEDxJacksonville conference, "On the Edge," on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the UNF Fine Arts Center's Lazzara Performance Hall. This immersive one-day experience invites attendees to explore ideas that challenge boundaries and spark transformative conversations.

The conference features a dynamic lineup of speakers from diverse fields, each offering unique perspectives on pressing global and societal issues.

Among those speaking and making their TEDx Talk debut will be Dr. Josh Gellers, UNF's Faculty Fellow for AI, director of the University's Digital Humanities Institute and professor of political science. His talk will examine the evolving concept of rights for non-human entities - including artificial intelligence (AI), animals and nature - and advocate for a consistent ethical framework across all beings.

"Rights are not static - they evolve as society and technology change," explained Gellers. "My goal is to help people think critically about what it means to be good in the world and how our approach to rights shapes that future."

While there have been previous TED Talks discussing AI rights, animal rights and rights of nature separately, Gellers talk serves as a trailblazing approach - bringing all three concepts into dialogue with each other.

"There is no other TED talk like this that draws together these different more-than-human components, so it's going to be novel," Gellers said.

Event attendees can also expect thought-provoking presentations on various topics including community revitalization and belonging, mindful aging, the future of work and leadership, environmental stewardship and more.

TEDxJacksonville 2026 speakers include:

• Susanna Barton - Author, journalist and communications professional
• Dr. Josh Gellers, Ph.D. - Political Scientist and AI Czar
• Ron Griswell and CJ Goulding - Community- and nature-centered healing practitioners
• Andrew Hilger - Former president of Allegis Group, North America's largest recruiting company
• Dr. Jeffrey Levenson - Eye surgeon, clinical researcher and humanitarian
• Svetlana Makarova - AI strategist, product leader at Mayo Clinic and founder of Spark Change
• Dr. Bonnie Nixon, Ph.D. - Sustainability pioneer and professor of sustainable supply chain at USC and UCLA
• Isaiah Oliver - President of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
• Christa Sylla - Founder of Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum and Dance Ensemble
• Travis Williams - President and CEO of LIFT JAX
• Dr. Jade Wu - Board-certified sleep psychologist, researcher and author

In addition to inspiring talks, the conference will offer vibrant entertainment and networking opportunities throughout the day. Attendees can enjoy live artistic performances, interactive activations, and creative showcases designed to spark conversation and connection. The event also includes curated breaks and a community-focused AfterGlow gathering, giving participants the chance to meet speakers, exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships in an engaging, collaborative atmosphere.

Learn more and purchase tickets to attend TEDxJacksonville Conference 2026: On the Edge.