Window Into The Academy: Webby Judges Across Creative Technology

1. Akira Thompson, Group Creative Director, Creative Technology, PXP Studios 
Region: United States 

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I’ve been working as an artist/designer/animator and creative director in the visual fx, motion graphics and advertising industries for the past two decades. For the last three years, my primary focus has shifted to exploring how to apply emerging generative AI technologies to these fields.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
We have a multitude of exciting AI-focused research and development, POCs, and public facing projects in the works for major brands, as we speak.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
I’m still not convinced it should be categorized as ‘brainrot,’ but I can watch hours of long haul truck driver videos on YouTube: hauling freight, loading trailers, checking in at weigh stations, buying food at truck stops. The pure, sometimes harsh solitude mixed with the beauty of the American open road is strangely appealing. 🤷‍♂️

2. Oena Sokol, Senior AI Engineer, Samsung
Region: Ukraine 

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I’m a Senior AI Engineer with 7 years of experience, combining strong mathematics background with practical AI and development skills. Currently working as a Senior AI Engineer at Samsung, I’ve gained extensive experience in evaluating and developing AI solutions across different domains.

My experience is relevant to judging sites as I have site development and AI skills. On the development side, I’m proficient in Python, REST API development, and backend systems using Django. For AI, I have hands-on experience with text generation using LLMs, image generation and detection systems, and building custom AI solutions. At Samsung, I’ve developed evaluation systems for code quality and vulnerability detection using GPT models, and implemented custom translation systems that demonstrate my ability to assess language processing quality.

I believe my combination of development skills and AI expertise, along with my experience in delivering production-ready solutions, will be valuable for evaluation of different sites, considering both technical implementation and AI capabilities.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
At Samsung, I’m working on some really interesting AI projects that I’m excited about! I’ve built a custom chatbot that’s making a real difference in customer support. I’m also developing a specialized translation system that’s helped reduce the workload of our translation team significantly.

The chatbot project has evolved into a system handling over 1000 customer queries daily, with 85% satisfaction rate. Our translation system now processes technical documentation in 18 languages, reducing translation time from days to hours. I’m currently working on enhancing these systems by implementing context-aware responses and improving technical terminology accuracy using custom-trained models.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
My daily brainrot is definitely AI fails and memes! I spend way too much time scrolling through Twitter threads of bizarre AI-generated images – those hilarious DALL-E creations where people end up with six fingers or merged faces. Being an AI engineer myself makes it even funnier because I understand exactly how these ‘happy accidents’ happen.

I like watching videos of AI experiments gone wrong, especially those unintentionally philosophical chatbot responses. It’s like watching your super smart friend having a completely absurd moment – both entertaining and oddly relatable!

3. Kaushik Dutt, Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Reddit
Region: United States

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I bring over a decade of experience in machine learning, specializing in applying advanced techniques to optimize advertising systems. Currently, I’m a Machine Learning Engineer at Reddit, where I develop large-scale, ML-powered solutions that serve millions of users. My expertise lies in designing and deploying scalable systems that harness the power of data to deliver impactful results.

Previously, I honed my skills at Yelp, further deepening my understanding of leveraging machine learning in high-impact applications. I’m excited to share this blend of technical depth and practical insights with the Academy.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
I am currently working on helping advertisers reduce their customer acquisition costs by matching them with high intent audiences.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
Formula One is an elite car racing competition. Morbula One is a channel that replicates the experience with marbles.

4. Ioana Ichim, Group Creative Director, VML
Region: Romania 

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I have 13+ years in advertising agencies, designing creative content strategy for local and global campaigns. I make brands and users’ needs meet.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
One of the most emotional projects I worked on is called “15 under 15” — it’s a replica of the well-known business magazine format, that presents a harsh reality: the stories of 15 children working under the legal age of 15, to support their families. While Romania’s budget for education is the lowest in all EU countries, 1 in 4 children in rural communities give up their studies before turning 15.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
Pop psychology.

5. Santiago Losada, Creative Lead, .Monks
Region: Colombia 

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?

With a background in creative advertising agencies, I’ve collaborated with diverse clients across Latin America, the United States, Europe, and Asia. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that human qualities like consistency, humility, adaptability, kindness, and empathy are essential for achieving great creative results and improving products or services.

By embracing a lifelong learning approach to culture and technology, we can continue to innovate and transform daily lives. Key to this is believing in our ideas and striving to shape the future. Platforms like the Webby Awards offer a fresh perspective into the rapid evolution of the internet and its profound impact on our lives.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?

At the moment my projects are confidential yet I have learned so much from the people I have worked with, in Formula.Monks (tech branch of Monks) we constantly find ways to improve ourselves as people and not only think about technology, design and creativity, so from a tech service company, humanity is a project that I work on every single day.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?

I am currently a strong critic of the Colombian government. I utilize the X platform to stay informed about the latest political developments, particularly the actions of the president and ministers. Occasionally, I encounter humorous commentary on these events, which I find engaging.

6. Denis Semenov, Media Artist and Co-founder, SAINT D Studio
Region: France

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I am a new media artist, co-founder and director at SAINT D Studio. I have a classical art education. At the beginning of my career, I worked in advertising agencies and at the Condé Nast publishing house. Generally, I create virtual and artificial intelligence art. My work is primarily in the fields of audio-visual performance and immersive installation. My particular works explore how the power of AI algorithms can create art pieces that challenge the boundaries of human imagination. Being immersed into AI and VR, I combine in my art creativity and cutting-edge technology. I am exploring how technologies generate new artistic forms, from paintings to music compositions.

I’ve received a number of awards for my works including Nomination for Emmy Awards as Outstanding Interactive Media: Documentary (USA), Webby Award — People’s Voice Winner (USA), Red Dot — Best of the Best. My works have been presented internationally at South by Southwest (USA), New Images Film Festival by Forum des images (France), Venice Film Festival (Italy), Cannes Film Festival (France) etc. Currently I live and work in France.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
One of my latest projects is a collaboration with TEDxBrussels and FARI AI Institute for the Common Good. It was featured as a projected installation at the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles during the TEDxBrussels and I presented it on the stage. Feelings and Sensors is an AI Audio Visual installation about the future of privacy and security.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
I think that my brainrot online this year is memecoins and the culture around it. X ( formerlyTwitter) is one of my main channels to discover related information. Starting from most popular posts from Elon Musk about DOGE and ending with Trippy Labs, who created Shroomates, an artistic community around memecoins, which gave me an opportunity to feature my work at Beyond Basel 2023 in Miami.

7. Moxie Garrett, Partner, AV Club
Region: Canada

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
With a career spanning 25 years, I thrive at the helm of complex business problems that need multidisciplinary solutions. I’ve led innovative teams and have a deep understanding of the roles and processes required for success. Working at some of Canada’s top advertising agencies, boutique marketing shops, and tech consultancies, my client portfolio spans numerous B2B and B2C categories.

A digital elder and self-described nerd, I was part of building some of the earliest social platform groups, cutting-edge websites, apps, interactive media, UCG campaigns, and AR initiatives. Lately, I’ve been focused on change management and digital transformation endeavours.

I consider myself a builder of brands, organizations, relationships, creative, content, digital ecosystems, and products. I also build student acumen as a Professor at Seneca Polytechnic teaching both Digital Marketing (Marketing Management program) and Strategy & Campaign Development (Interactive Media program).

A true Gen Xer, I’ve enjoyed an analog childhood but have watched technology + creativity evolve since the dawn of search engines, smartphones, and social platforms. I miss my Blackberry, virtual chat rooms, and MySpace the most.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
I’m most excited about continuing to build my practice at AV Club with my business partner, Cam Finlayson. We met at one of the first digital agencies in Canada in 2007 and are having a blast being colleagues again.

Working with the people, projects, and causes that are important to us drives this excitement. Specifically, we chase mission-led leaders, interesting business problems, innovative industries, and productive working relationships with good people.

Along with our regular roster of clients, we’ve been partnering with many start-ups trying to solve many different problems. This work is exciting by its very nature — it’s diverse, multi-faceted, completely new each time, and full of people who want to create meaningful change.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
Lately, I’ve been strangely obsessed with watching Turkish barbers with their clients and storytimes with sex workers on TikTok. And, like everyone else, I’m always down for interspecies animal friendship content. I tend to over-index on feel-good content these days to over-correct for the awful political climate and discourse around us.

8. Nico Tangara, Associate Creative Director / Creative Technologist, BBH Singapore
Region: Singapore

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
My work involves technology and experimentation. Being ahead with technology and integrate it to creative work

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
Currently I am very much deep into hardware in Raspberry Pi. I love making new products and exploring the space of bringing the idea to life.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
There’s this Youtuber who started streaming games and turned himself into a tech-wiz. His ideas for his contents are super fresh. He doesn’t have a technical background yet he can make the ideas come to life with just keep trying and experimenting, which is insane.

9. Frank Siringo, Partner/Producer/Director, Team Bubbly
Region: United states

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I’ve been in production for over 20 years. I started a production company with a good friend 14 years ago. I came up as an audio engineer, then DP/Editor, and evolved to producing and directing for the last 10+ years. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on large scale sets and DIY sets and still get inspired to be a part of both.

As someone who grew up without the internet I’ve got a unique perspective of the world of storytelling. It’s been a wild ride in my timeline and I’m even more excited about what’s to come then when I began this journey. ”

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
I am in post-production for some stories for a great non profit we work with. Additionally, I’m in pre-production for a home cleaning brand commercial with a big name attached. Also in pre pro for an opera commission that’s created for the screen as opposed for the stage. I’m very excited about that one.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
60second docs, hydraulic press, and any vintage Porsche restomods are all I care about on Instagram.

10. Rachita Naik, Machine Learning Engineer, Lyft Inc.
Region: United States

Who are you and what expertise do you bring to The Academy?
I am a Machine Learning (ML) Engineer at Lyft, Inc., and a recent graduate of Columbia University in New York. With two years of professional experience, I’m passionate about leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop impactful software solutions that address real-world challenges.

At Lyft, I specialize in designing and deploying cutting-edge ML models to enhance the ride-hailing experience, focusing on improving pickup time reliability and overall system efficiency. Beyond my professional work, I actively contribute to the Women in Data Science organization, fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment for women in the field. I am  committed to creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and inspiring the next generation of data scientists.

As an Academy member, I’m eager to join a network of industry pioneers and visionaries who are advancing the intersection of technology, digital media, and social impact.

What projects are you working on or you’re excited about working on?
I’m super excited about exploring the intersection of Deep Learning and its applications in the ridesharing industry. It’s fascinating to see how advanced models can optimize everything from driver-passenger matching to predicting ride demand in real-time. I’m especially interested in leveraging these techniques to tackle challenges like improving ETA reliability, reducing ride cancellations, and enhancing the overall passenger experience.

For this season’s Webby Talks, we’re exploring brainrot and the rise of digital absurdism.  What’s your personal brainrot online?
My personal brainrot right now is scrolling through high-protein breakfast recipes on Instagram. I can’t get enough of those aesthetic videos where they whip up fluffy protein pancakes, creative overnight oats, or Greek yogurt parfaits with all the toppings. There’s something so satisfying about watching these meals come together—it’s like meal-prep ASMR. Plus, I love finding new ways to make my breakfasts both healthy and delicious. It’s become my go-to rabbit hole lately!