A woman standing at a podium between 2 screens with the words Central Memory Processing Unit on them

First Annual Summit on Information, Technology, and American Democracy: Past, Present, and Future

The Center for American Political History, Media, and Technology (CAPT) and the Governance and Responsible AI Lab at Purdue (GRAIL) are proud to host the first annual “Summit on Information, Technology and American Democracy” in Indianapolis on April 30, 2026.

Are you overwhelmed with information? Do you struggle to distinguish fact from fiction? Do you want better tools to navigate a media landscape that divides and distracts us? Join thought leaders in journalism, public policy, and academia to discuss the challenges of journalism and civic education in the age of AI algorithms, and what citizens can do to stay informed.

REGISTER FOR The Summit

Location

The Heirloom at N.K. Hurst
230 West McCarty Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225

Date

April 30, 2026

Event Schedule

Morning Session: 10AM

"The Game of Democracy or The Paradox of Choice"
What to know what it is like to be stuck in an algorithm? Come join an interactive performance project led by Purdue professor William Lewis in the Department of Theatre and Dance and Indiana University professor Sarah E. Johnson and participate in a game show that embodies the process of algorithm sorting and polarized identity formation. Lunch will be provided for all participants (advance registration required).

Registration and Welcome: 12:30PM-1:00PM

Afternoon Plenary Sessions: 1PM-5PM

  • Political Satire and Free Speech
  • History, Journalism, and Democracy
  • Deepfakes and the Battle for Authentic Information
  • The Past, Present, and Future of Civic Education

Speakers