Progress Conference 2025
roots of progress intitute
Overview
The annual Progress Conference brought together over 350 attendees in Berkeley, California, for a dynamic gathering centered on ideas shaping the progress movement. With four focused talk tracks, attendee-led unconference sessions, and intentionally designed group meals, the event balanced structured depth with community-driven connection, while a spacious venue and on-site childcare ensured accessibility for all. Surprise evening programming, off-site factory tours, and a multi-author book signing created memorable moments, with many guests calling it the best conference they had ever experienced.
speakers
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![A young man with short brown hair and blue eyes wearing a light gray sweater, standing against a plain off-white background. sam altman]()
Sam Altman
OpenAI
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![A smiling man in a blue blazer and white shirt standing outdoors near a wall with a blurred background.]()
Jason Crawford
Roots of Progress Institute
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![Close-up of smiling man with short curly hair, wearing a black leather jacket, standing in front of a dark background.]()
Kmele Foster
Freethink; Tangle
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![Young man in a navy suit and tie smiling, with an American flag in the background.]()
Michael Kratsios
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
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![A woman with short, wavy brown hair, wearing black glasses and a light grey sweater, smiling indoors.]()
Jennifer Pahlka
Niskanen Center
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![Man with a beard and shaved head, wearing a white button-up shirt, standing indoors near a glass window.]()
Santi Ruiz
Institute for Progress; Statecraft
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![A portrait of a man with short light brown hair, wearing a black shirt, against a black background.]()
Blake Scholl
Boom Supersonic
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![Close-up of a person with glasses wearing a white shirt, smiling against a blurred outdoor background.]()
Dan Wang
Breakneck; Hoover History Lab
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![A middle-aged man with glasses, a beard, and short gray hair, wearing a suit and a light blue shirt, smiling against a dark background.]()
Tyler Cowen
Mercatus Center; Conversations with Tyler
Highlight Gallery
“ Really, really impressive work putting on such a great event. I came away with dozens of ideas, memories and contacts that I suspect will be paying dividends for many years!”
— John Burn-Murdoch,
Data Columnist, The Financial Times
