Imagine Solutions Conference in Naples to Explore Future of AI, Health

The 16th-annual event will feature 19 global "thought leaders" discussing the nation's past and future for its 250th anniversary.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Imagine Solutions Conference in Naples, Florida will gather 19 influential speakers to give short lectures on topics like AI, health, history, and the arts as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The annual event, themed "Honoring Our Past | Creating Our Future," will explore the nation's history, science, technology, health, leadership, and ethics.

Why it matters

The Imagine Solutions Conference is a prominent annual event that brings together leading experts and thinkers to discuss critical issues shaping the future of the United States as it reaches a major milestone in its history. The diverse range of speakers and topics covered provide valuable insights into how the country's past is influencing its present and future.

The details

Notable speakers at this year's Imagine Solutions Conference include former DARPA director Regina Dugan, who is now leading efforts to advance human health with the nonprofit Wellcome Leap, and New York Times columnist David Brooks, who writes about politics, culture, and the social sciences. Other speakers include Chris Bahl of the Boston biotech company AI Proteins, which uses AI to design new protein-based medicines, and Patrick Spero, president and CEO of the American Philosophical Society, the country's oldest learned society founded by Benjamin Franklin.

  • The 16th-annual Imagine Solutions Conference takes place on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary this summer.

The players

Regina Dugan

Former Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), now leading efforts to make advancements in human health with the nonprofit Wellcome Leap.

Chris Bahl

Founder of AI Proteins, a Boston biotechnology company using AI to design next-generation protein-based medicines that could change how we treat disease.

David Brooks

A New York Times columnist and bestselling author who writes about politics, culture and the social sciences.

Sing Harlem

A music group that celebrates 'the power of voice, community and American musical tradition, underscoring the essential role of the arts in shaping national identity'.

Patrick Spero

President and CEO of the American Philosophical Society, the country's oldest learned society founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743.

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What they’re saying

“This anniversary isn't just about celebrating where we've been. It's about asking whether we're living up to the ideals that launched this country and how we carry those ideals forward in a very different and complex world.”

— Randy Antik, Founder and CEO, Imagine Solutions Conference (naplesnews.com)

“What makes this conference newsworthy isn't just who's speaking. It's what they're speaking about. These are people doing real work in real time — advancing science, shaping policy, preserving history and asking questions that matter.”

— Randy Antik, Founder and CEO, Imagine Solutions Conference (naplesnews.com)

What’s next

The 16th-annual Imagine Solutions Conference will take place on Monday, March 2, 2026 at the Arthrex One Conference Center in Naples, Florida.

The takeaway

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Imagine Solutions Conference in Naples will bring together leading experts and thinkers to explore how the country's past is shaping its future, with a focus on critical issues like AI, healthcare, and the role of the arts in national identity.