Speakers for Social Good Summit 2026: UN AI panel members, Yuval Noah Harari, and more

Expect high-level discussions, and expert perspectives on what humanity can do about the breakneck speed of AI development at Rappler's biggest fundraising event

AT A GLANCE

• The Social Good Summit 2026 in Manila will focus on the implications of unregulated AI development on human agency and community well-being.
• The event will also feature mini-masterclasses aimed at upskilling participants on data privacy, storytelling with data, and navigating the challenges posed by AI.

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MANILA, Philippines – At this year’s Social Good Summit, we’ve chosen speakers who can speak with authority and unique insight about where humanity stands in the artificial intelligence race, and what we can still do to protect human thriving.

In recent months, the threat of unregulated AI development to human agency, security, relationships, democracies, and even cognitive abilities has become an urgent global conversation. That’s why we’ve decided to make Social Good Summit 2026 about this issue, and to spotlight what WE, THE HUMANS can do to protect our communities from the abuses of this technology.

On November 21 (Saturday), at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, Social Good Summit will convene the following speakers:

• Three members of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, the UN’s highest expert advisory body on AI policy-making and governance: UN tech envoy Amandeep Singh Gill, AI Singapore’s Leslie Teo, and Rappler’s own CEO and 2021 Nobel laureate Maria Ressa
• Historian, thought leader, and bestselling author of Sapiens and Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari, for a recorded conversation about where he sees AI taking humanity – a unique, longview perspective on how this technology is changing our species
• Iza Calzado, a mental health advocate, award-winning actress, and co-founder of She Talks Asia, in a session about how AI, social media, and toxic corners of the internet are affecting young people, families, and communities
• Empath founder and CEO Steph Naval, whose company uses technology to improve access to mental health services in the Philippines, on the right balance to strike between automation and the human touch when dealing with mental health, isolation, and loneliness
• Senior editors and newsroom managers from across Southeast Asia, on the increasingly critical but endangered role of journalists amid AI-powered disinformation: Wahyu Dyatmika of Tempo, Soe Myint of Mizzima, Mildred Galarpe of SunStar Cebu. They’ll be joined by Kathy Im from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

More speakers will be announced in the coming days.

RappLearn Mini Masterclasses: Upskilling humans vs abused AI

Aside from the plenary program, there’s more.

A major part are RappLearn mini-masterclasses where participants can get upskilled on safeguarding themselves against data privacy and personal security threats posed by AI agents, vibecoding tools that can free up humans from tasks that can be automated, telling good stories using data, and protecting brands from multiple information crises.

RappLearn is Rappler’s learning and training arm, offering in-demand executive learning sessions in immersive, hands-on formats. At the Summit, we offer modified versions of the full classes, allowing attendees to sample more than one class. 

Here’s the full list of mini masterclasses (participants get to choose two sessions: one in the morning, one in the afternoon):

MORNING SESSIONS

How Safe Are You When AI is in the Room? Privacy and Personal Safety in the Age of AI Agents By Gemma Mendoza, Head of Strategic Programs	This examines how the integration of AI into daily life affects personal security and welfare. By the end of the session, participants will take home a personal digital wellness action plan, which includes strategies to mitigate risks to safety and privacy in the age of AI.
Talking to Machines: What a Newsroom Taught Me About Vibe Coding By Don Kevin Hapal, Chief Data Officer	This shares the most surprising lessons from working with AI and a skeptical, deadline-driven newsroom. The highlight is a live, collaborative build, where participants direct an AI to create a working tool from scratch — deciding what to make, and troubleshooting it in real time. The goal is to understand what vibe coding really means for companies and organizations.
#AnimatED: The Art of the Animated Editorial Cartoon By Nico Villarete and Emil Mercado (Creatives Team)	This introduces participants to the dynamic world of animated editorial cartoons. Blending traditional journalistic commentary, satirical illustration, and motion design, this course teaches students how to transform sharp political and social critique into engaging, moving visual narratives.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

Under Pressure: A Masterclass on Reputation and Risk By Miko Superable (Marketing Lead) and Carla Yap-Sy Su (Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer)	Drawing from the Rappler experience, this mini-masterclass prompts brand managers, marketers, and advocates to revisit the foundations of marketing for the AI age, from telling stories that travel and building trusted relationships to creating brands resilient enough to withstand crisis.
Turning Insights into Impact: Data-driven Storytelling for Professionals By Kit Posadas (Head of Strategy for Business Intelligence) and Pauline Macaraeg (Lead Forensics Researcher for Rappler)	This empowers professionals to transform data into compelling narratives that drive strategic decisions and inspire action. Learners will explore the foundations of data storytelling, including sourcing and analyzing credible data, structuring narratives using proven frameworks, visualizing insights effectively, and tailoring presentations for diverse audiences. Designed for non-technical and technical participants alike, the course equips learners with tips to communicate data with clarity, context, and impact across business, policy, and communication contexts.
Living in Water: A 360° Virtual Reality Immersion into the Climate Crisis By Ana P. Santos, Rappler journalist and Fellow, Equity Initiative and Atlantic Institute	This 360° virtual reality Rappler documentary immerses viewers in life on Isla Tibaguin, Bulacan, where rising sea levels turn streets into rivers nearly every day. The 15-minute documentary reveals what residents are forced to endure as they adapt to the climate emergency unfolding in slow motion. Living in Water makes its large-scale premiere at the Social Good Summit. This session includes a talkback with the film’s creator, and members of the community it spotlights.

It’s going to be a jam-packed day of learning at WE, THE HUMANS.

Get your tickets by tapping the button below. Proceeds will fund Rappler’s AI literacy programs, and investigative and explanatory journalism.

Each ticket also gives you 3 months of Rappler+ membership: access to all of our investigative reports, invites to newsroom briefings, and more.

Discounted early bird tickets are available only until September 30.

Social Good Summit 2026 is co-presented by by the MacArthur Foundation and the Journalism for Nation Building Foundation. Our media partner for this event is Tatler Asia. – Rappler.com