Nolan Bushnell is a pioneering engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Atari, Inc. and the creator of Chuck E. Cheese's. In 1972, he co-founded Atari, revolutionizing the video game industry with the release of Pong, one of the first commercially successful arcade games. In 1977, Bushnell established Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre, merging dining with arcade entertainment, which became a nationwide family destination. Over his career, he has founded more than 20 companies, including Catalyst Technologies, one of the first business incubators, and Brainrush, an educational software company leveraging game-based learning. A recognized industry visionary, Bushnell has been inducted into both the Video Game Hall of Fame and the Consumer Electronics Association Hall of Fame. He is also known for Bushnell’s Law, which states that great games should be "easy to learn and difficult to master."

Presentations

22x

Panel: AI Thought Leaders

Recap the mornings learnings with a panel of AI thought leaders.

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22x

AI in Education: Amplified Intelligence through Games

Artificial intelligence and game-based learning are converging and transforming education by making learning more efficient, personalized, and engaging. This talk will discuss how AI-driven adaptive learning systems can improve knowledge retention and problem-solving by tailoring content to individual learners. Drawing from his vast and storied experience in both video games and educational technology, Bushnell will explain how gamification, real-time feedback, and AI-driven pattern recognition enhance learning outcomes.

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