As artificial intelligence accelerates creative output and challenges our notions of truth, we find ourselves asking a deeper question: What role does humanity play when machines can create?
On May 5, join us for an intimate evening hosted by Harlowe at the Chief Clubhouse in Union Square, where we’ll explore this question through the lens of powerful voices at the forefront of visual culture and emerging technology:
Santiago Lyon, Head of Advocacy and Education for Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative, advancing digital transparency and fighting misinformation.
Brandon Ruffin, interdisciplinary artist and creative technologist at Google, has spent years pushing the boundaries of storytelling through image, code, and cultural narrative.
Artemis Moshtaghian, Reporter and Senior Producer at CNN, brings a frontline perspective on visual truth and global media coverage in an increasingly AI-assisted world.
Andrew VanWickler, New York City-based visual storyteller with 16+ years in media—including leadership at ABC News—whose work and workshops with Harlowe champion creativity, authenticity, and self-expression through photography, film, and design.
Together, in a conversation moderated by Andrew VanWicker, they will explore the human questions AI forces us to confront:
- What does authenticity mean when the line between real and rendered is increasingly blurred?
- Can efficiency ever serve intention in the creative process?
- How do we preserve memory, representation, and provenance in this rapidly shifting visual era?
BRANDON RUFFIN
Brandon Ruffin is an Oakland-based photographer and filmmaker whose work explores identity, memory, and the human condition through photography and film. Working under the moniker Ruff Draft, his practice blends street photography, portraiture, and experimental narrative to create images that are intimate, cinematic, and socially reflective.
Ruffin’s work has been exhibited at Leica Gallery San Francisco (This Must Be The Place, 2023) and his film ‘Faded Requiem” was recognized by the San Francisco International Film Awards (Best Narrative Drama). He is a current Leica USA Ambassador.
In addition to his fine art practice, Ruffin works in Research for computational photography at Google, contributing to the creative and technical development of the Pixel camera and Photos App —where artistic vision meets Artificial Intelligence. His work spans image aesthetics, data curation, and prompt engineering, shaping how AI understands and generates imaging output.
A committed educator and community builder, Ruffin is a founding member of OAKSPC and Cameras & Coffee Club, and has led workshops in both US and Europe. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle.
Follow Brandon on Instagram at @ruffdraft
ARTEMIS MOSHTAGHIAN
Artemis is an award-winning reporter and producer at CNN's New York Bureau. She has overseen coverage of global and domestic stories, including human rights issues and breaking news. With over a decade at CNN, Artemis has been instrumental in managing and producing coverage for impactful and often sensitive stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Known for her ability to turn raw news into captivating narratives, she brings a wealth of experience in making stories visually and emotionally engaging for media consumers.
Follow Artemis on Instagram at @artemispix
SANTIAGO LYON
Santiago Lyon is the Head of Advocacy and Education for the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative, focused on combatting misinformation and promoting attribution and transparency through digital content provenance.
He has 40 years of experience in photography as an award-winning photojournalist, photo editor, media executive and educator.
As a photographer for Reuters and the Associated Press for 20 years, he won multiple photojournalism awards for his work between 1989-1999 where he photographed 9 wars on 4 continents.
In 2003/2004 he was a Nieman Fellow in journalism at Harvard University before being named VP/Director of Photography at the Associated Press, a position he held until 2016.
Under his direction, the AP won 3 Pulitzer Prizes for photography as well as multiple other major photojournalism awards around the world.
In 2012 he was a Sulzberger Fellow at Columbia University and was Chair of the Jury for the 2013 World Press Photo contest.
Lyon serves on the advisory board of the VII Foundation.
ANDREW VANWICKLER
Andrew is a New York City-based artist renowned for his creative storytelling through photography, filmmaking, and design. With over 16 years of experience in media, he has held various roles at Disney, ESPN, and ABC, culminating as the Director of Visual Content for ABC News. Recently, Andrew has led Harlowe experiences and collaborates on workshops that inspire creativity and promote authenticity. His work embodies a strong commitment to embracing your true self and expressing individuality through visual narratives. Follow Andrew on Instagram @avwpictures. www.avwpictures.com
