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Washington AI Network Hosts AI Honors Gala, Honors Seven American Leaders in Artificial Intelligence

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Releases New Survey Findings on AI, Revealing a Sharp Divide Between Heavy AI Users and the General Public

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Washington AI Network’s second annual AI Honors, Washington’s only black-tie AI gala, drew more than 400 leaders from government, tech, and academia last night to honor seven Americans shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), with new polling showing that the technology is already reshaping how ordinary Americans make their most consequential decisions.

Here are the 2026 AI Honors Awardees

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) accepted the Bipartisan Leadership on AI Award presented by actor Michael KellyEntrepreneur Kevin O’Leary—a.k.a. Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful—(video interview) received the AI Global Ambassador Award from Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne NasonNVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky received the Founder’s Education Accelerator Award from CNN anchor Pamela BrownOmidyar CEO Michele Jawando (video interview) was presented the Civic Technology Leadership Award by DC Mayor Muriel BowserMajor General Patrick J. Ellis, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, received the AI Leadership Award from Army Secretary Dan DriscollDr. Katherine (Kathy) Yelick (video interview) received the Public Science Award from Dr. Darío Gil who serves as both the Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Director of the Genesis Mission

The evening featured remarks by the newly appointed papal nuncio, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia; NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky; Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary.

“This gathering itself represents something that Pope Leo calls for in his recent encyclical entitled Magnifica Humanitas, a shared document involving many sectors of society. The future of this technology cannot be guided by one field alone. It needs science and policy, business and public service, ethics and faith,” said Archbishop Gabriele Caccia. “From the beginning, at every stage, the development and application of artificial intelligence must be guided by the dignity of the human person and by the common good of the human family.”

“Energy is what drives progress. It’s what drives innovation. It’s what lifts people’s standard of living up. We need to get our act together with electricity,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “We’ve tripled our oil production, doubled our natural gas production — but energy in the form of electricity, we’ve barely grown in twenty years. We do not want to hold back this technology or push this technology overseas by not delivering the electricity.”

NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky said, “The AI era will give the next generation of students and workers the most powerful tools ever created to learn, build, and discover. And even beyond this, it will help reindustrialize America and shape our next 250 years. But to realize that future, we must empower all to reach their full potential. And it’ll take industry, government, and academia working together to get it right.”

Making the case that AI hesitation — not AI ambition — is the real threat, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said, “The biggest risk to our national security is not moving too fast. It’s not moving fast enough.”

Entrepreneur and honoree Kevin O’Leary escalated his months-long fight over his proposed Utah data center, accusing China of funding a coordinated disinformation campaign against American energy and AI infrastructure projects — and vowing to press forward regardless. “I’m going to use my voice to fix this,” O’Leary said. “I’d never seen this before. It’s wrong. And as far as Box Elder County is — I’m going to build this data center. I’m going to build it as a shining example of what we can do here in America.”

“When the Secretary of the Army, a cofounder of NVIDIA, a serial entrepreneur, a National Lab director, and the Vatican’s representative to the United States are all on one stage, this is Washington at its best,” said Washington AI Network founder and CEO Tammy Haddad. “The Washington AI Network has been the catalyst for how Washington talks about AI, and last night, it was the moment for celebrating those leading Washington — and the world — into what comes next.”

During the AI Honors Gala, the Washington AI Network and Morning Consult released findings from a national poll of 1,501 U.S. adults examining how Americans use, trust, and want to govern artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, conducted May 27–30, 2026, comes as policymakers, industry, and the public face the rapid disruption and integration of AI into health, finance, work, and this year’s elections.

The poll surfaces three new insights: (1) about a quarter of Americans are turning to AI for high-stakes personal decisions on health, money, and legal questions — making AI a de facto doctor, accountant, and lawyer; (2) 70% of Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about AI’s role in the 2026 elections; and (3) views on AI are sharply divided between the nearly 20% of Americans who use AI daily and everyone else, who answer questions about trust, elections, and institutions 20 to 40 points apart.

The event, which was emceed by CNN anchor Pamela Brown, was aired on C-SPAN. Watch the entire AI Honors program on Washington AI Network’s YouTube

Photos are available HERE (Getty Images for the Washington AI Network with captions).

Website: www.washingtonainetwork.com

About Washington AI Network
Launched in July 2023 in response to the growing policy questions around artificial intelligence (AI), the Washington AI Network is a bipartisan forum focused on education, dialogue, and progress around AI innovation and governance – bringing the right people together to move the conversation and the country forward. The Washington AI Network is powered by Haddad Media.

Contact: media@washingtonainetwork.com

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OMNICOM TO PRESENT AT THE GOLDMAN SACHS COMMUNACOPIA + TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

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NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) today announced that it will present at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026 in San Francisco, California on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time.  Live and archived webcasts will be available at the investor relations section of omc.com.

About Omnicom
Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is the world’s leading marketing and sales company, built for intelligent growth in the next era. Powered by Omni and its proprietary data and identity, Omnicom’s Connected Capabilities unite the company’s world‑class agency brands, exceptional talent, and deep domain expertise across media, commerce, consulting, precision marketing, advertising, production, health, public relations, branding, and experiential to address clients’ most critical growth priorities. For more information, visit omc.com

 

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SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

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Minister Hodgson highlights Western Canada’s role in Canada’s energy and economic future

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PRINCE GEORGE, BC, Sept. 4, 2026 /CNW/ — Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, concluded a five-day tour across Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, highlighting how provinces, workers, Indigenous partners, researchers and industry are positioning Canada as a global energy superpower with the strongest economy in the G7. Across Western Canada, Canadians are turning global volatility into opportunities for strength: building a more prosperous economy; enhancing our national security; creating good-paying jobs; and unlocking Canadian resources and connecting them to global markets.

In Alberta, Minister Hodgson spent time with Todd Loewen, Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks, visiting forest sector workers in the Grande Prairie region and meeting firefighters who have kept Albertans safe through wildfire seasons. They discussed supporting the forest products sector in the face of unjustified U.S. tariffs, pivoting Canadian industry to domestic and non-U.S. markets, and how Canada and Alberta can work together to keep communities in Alberta safe from wildfire.

The Minister also visited Suncor’s oil sands operations in Fort McMurray, meeting the people whose hard work powers Canada and reinforces our role as a reliable energy supplier amidst volatile global energy markets. Our government is working hard with our Albertan, industry and Indigenous partners to support our energy sector and build Canada into a prosperous, sovereign and sustainable energy superpower, including through the Canada–Alberta Memorandum of Understanding.

In Saskatchewan, discussions focused on the infrastructure, innovation and resources that will help power Canada’s future. Meetings with provincial counterparts, including Minister Chris Beaudry; municipal leaders; industry; and researchers at the University of Saskatchewan highlighted opportunities to strengthen electricity grids, unlock Saskatchewan’s critical minerals advantage and advance major projects. Visits to the Jansen Mine and the Saskatchewan Research Council’s Rare Earth Processing Facility demonstrated Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s growing strength across the critical minerals and nuclear energy sectors, from resource extraction and processing to advanced technologies and exports.

Minister Hodgson also joined the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, to announce nearly $12 million for businesses in Saskatoon, which are standing up against American tariffs by investing, growing and innovating in Canada, creating jobs, diversifying our supply chains and helping our nation become more economically independent.

The tour also featured two landmark moments that underscored Canada’s ambition to build major projects and strengthen long-term economic prosperity, national security and sustainability. In Saskatchewan, Minister Hodgson announced progress achieved at the McIlvenna Bay copper and zine mine since its referral to the Major Projects Office one year ago. In British Columbia, he joined federal, provincial and Indigenous partners for the groundbreaking ceremony of the North Coast Transmission Line, a transformative infrastructure project that will more than double the availability of clean, low-cost electricity on the West Coast; unlock natural resources projects like the Ksi Lisims LNG facility and critical minerals developments in the Golden Triangle; and create $10 billion in new economic activity and nearly 10,000 jobs.

Western Canada is helping drive a new era of Canadian prosperity, sovereignty and sustainability through responsible resource development, made-in-Canada innovation and a world-class workforce. By advancing projects of national interest, the region is unlocking Canada’s full potential and helping us build Canada Strong.

Quote

“In many ways, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are the beating heart of our energy and natural resource sectors. This week, I saw first-hand the people, projects and partnerships that are building Canada Strong amidst the unjustified trade war we are experiencing. From responsible resource development and world-class research to critical infrastructure and energy innovation, Canadians are creating the conditions for long-term prosperity, security, sustainability and sovereignty.”

The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick Facts

Minister Hodgson toured Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia from August 30 to September 3, 2026.Canada’s natural resources sector is a cornerstone of the national economy, contributing $459 billion (16 percent) to Canada’s GDP in 2024 and supporting 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs across the country.Western Canada is the powerhouse of Canada’s natural resources economy. In 2022, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan together accounted for approximately 62 percent of Canada’s natural resources GDP.

Related Products

Canada celebrates progress on the McIlvenna Bay mine: production underway, jobs created, supply chains strengthenedCanada breaks ground on North Coast Transmission Line to deliver clean power and reduce emissions

Associated Links

Canada’s Critical Minerals StrategyNuclear Energy Strategy for Canada

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Surfshark launches beta tester program, inviting users to shape the future of cybersecurity

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Users can now gain exclusive early access to unreleased features and communicate directly with Surfshark’s development team via a dedicated Discord hub.

VILNIUS, Lithuania, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Surfshark, a cybersecurity company, has officially announced the launch of its updated beta tester program, offering users early access to new features, design changes, and updates before they are released to the general public. Currently available for Windows and Android app users, the program invites community members to play a direct role in testing, refining, and shaping the future of Surfshark’s services.

The importance of user feedback

“Our mission is to build the most beloved security product for everyone – but for that, we need input from our community. Surfshark’s development team and I are genuinely excited to always receive feedback from our users. Oftentimes, we are buried so deep into our product that we don’t see the small details or inconveniences – and that’s why we need users’ input to be a part of how Surfshark services are being shaped,” says Gabriele Sinkeviciute, Head of Product at Surfshark.

The beta tester program creates a collaborative environment where users worldwide can test unreleased tools, report bugs or quirks, and provide real-time feedback. Participant feedback will directly influence feature improvements and the development of new products based on user needs.

Initiative works through a closed Discord group designed for direct, two-way communication between beta testers and Surfshark’s product developers.

“Our updated beta tester program allows us to build features aligned with what our community actually needs,” Sinkeviciute continues. “While early versions may occasionally contain bugs, the insight provided by our beta community is invaluable in helping us fine-tune tools before public releases.”

How to join Surfshark’s beta tester program

Any active Surfshark subscriber on Windows or Android can join the program today:

On Windows: Open the Surfshark app, navigate to Settings > App settings, scroll to Beta Testing, and click Join Beta.On Android: Visit the Surfshark app page in the Google Play Store, scroll to the Join the beta section, and tap Join.

Enrolled participants will be invited to join the private Discord hub to connect with developers and fellow beta testers.

To learn more or sign up today, visit: https://surfshark.com/beta-tester-program

ABOUT SURFSHARK

Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, and a tool for generating an online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark’s operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up. For more research projects, visit our research hub.

Contact: media@surfshark.com 

 

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SOURCE Surfshark B.V.

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