Those of us who have lived in San Miguel for any length of time know that interesting things have a way of happening here.
Earlier this year, Branka Panic took the stage at TEDxCalle Aldama in San Miguel de Allende to talk about artificial intelligence, war and a question we probably don't ask often enough: if AI is becoming increasingly important to the way wars are fought, could we also be using it to build peace?
Her talk, "AI is shaping war—what about peace?," has since been published and was recently selected by TED as an Editor's Pick. That's quite an accomplishment for Branka, of course, and also a nice moment for San Miguel.
We tend to think of our town in terms of its art, architecture, food, history and extraordinary collection of people from just about everywhere. But increasingly, San Miguel is also becoming a place where interesting conversations are happening, sometimes conversations with relevance well beyond Mexico. Branka's talk is a good example.
She isn't arguing that technology will somehow solve the problem of war. Her question is more thoughtful than that. We are putting enormous resources into developing artificial intelligence for defense and conflict. What might happen if some of that same imagination and technological ability were directed toward preventing conflict in the first place? It's the sort of question a TEDxCalle Aldama talk should leave you thinking about, maybe over dinner.
One clarification to make is that in San Miguel there are different, independently organized TEDx events, and their names can understandably become a little confusing. The event where Branka gave her talk was TEDxCalle Aldama. TEDxCalle Aldama is an independently organized TEDx event here in San Miguel, with its own license, organizers, speakers and curatorial direction.
And yes, the name comes from that Calle Aldama. It's appropriate as Aldama is one of those streets that seems to contain several versions of San Miguel at once: history, architecture, residents, visitors and everyday life all passing through the same few blocks.
After seeing a talk delivered here in San Miguel go on to receive recognition from TED's editors, we are working hard to curate who takes the stage next. There are plenty of places in the world where important ideas are supposed to come from. It's nice when one comes from San Miguel.
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TEDxCalle Aldama returns on January, 2027, with its third edition, this time under the theme Living Cartographies: The Human Footprint. The idea is to look at the marks we human beings leave behind, not only on places, but on one another, on our communities, our memories and the generations that follow us.
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Julio Cambrón, from the verdant highlands of Tuxpan de las Flores, Michoacán, Julio Cambrón has forged a distinguished path blending entrepreneurial acumen with artistic vision. Following a successful career in sales and tourism, he embarked on an innovative venture in San Miguel, where he pioneered the city's inaugural geodesic glamping experience. As a curator of creative endeavors, his collaboration with acclaimed artist Jose Oscar Molina exemplifies his commitment to advancing artistic expression.
A passionate photographer and global explorer, Julio channels his aesthetic sensibility into both his photography portfolio and the thoughtful development of spaces that inspire creativity. His multifaceted career reflects a dedication to crafting experiences that merge entrepreneurial innovation with artistic excellence.
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