Washington AI Network holds black-tie gala at Waldorf Astoria
The Washington AI Network hosted its second annual AI Honors event last week at the Waldorf Astoria. Attendees included AI lobbyists, industry representatives, and administration officials. The gathering occurred days after Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical on artificial intelligence.
nypost.comThe Washington AI Network held its second annual AI Honors gala at the Waldorf Astoria last week. The black-tie event drew AI lobbyists, tech industry representatives, journalists, and senior administration officials. Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary received an award during the program.
Papal nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia attended and delivered remarks on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. The document outlines Catholic doctrine on artificial intelligence and calls for safeguards on human conditions amid technological change.
Background noise from dinner service made portions of the remarks difficult to hear.
President Trump signed an executive order on AI model review on June 2 after earlier reversals. The order sets a maximum 30-day delay for unreleased advanced AI models. Lobbyists noted that past political donations can affect regulatory outcomes under the current administration.
Several attendees discussed uncertainty ahead of the November midterm elections. Tech Influence Watch, a project by journalist Molly White, tracks political spending by AI and crypto interests in the coming cycle. The project links overlapping donor networks between the two sectors.
