When an IVLP group comes to Northwest Florida, we don’t just host them, we connect them with the people and places shaping America’s future.
In July 2025, Gulf Coast Diplomacy welcomed a six-person group from Brazil for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project on artificial intelligence. Planned nationally by Meridian International Center, this was our first strictly AI-focused exchange. Five visitors were AI professionals, and one was a journalist reporting on AI.
Over two programming days, our community’s innovators, educators, and civic leaders came together to create hands-on, interactive appointments that led to real dialogue and practical ideas. The centerpiece was a community night at the Pensacola MESS Hall, co-designed with the founder of the science museum and the Brazilian visitors and supported by a hospitality grant from Marriott International. Most attendees were new to our organizations. Some even drove in from Alabama, and the feedback was stellar.
Program Highlights
- City of Pensacola
Official welcome with Council Member Charles Bare and Innovation & Technology Director Stephen Ringl, including a briefing on how the city uses AI to improve services like recycling collection
Takeaway: Civic applications of AI can deliver tangible quality-of-life benefits and provide a clear public value case - Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC)
Site visit and discussions on human-machine teaming, robotics, and responsible research
Takeaway: Pairing human judgment with AI tools improves performance and trust, especially in safety-focused fields - Start-Up Ecosystem Exchange at CO:LAB with Kukua Institute and the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
Lightning talks with entrepreneurs and AI adopters, including members of the AI Builders Pensacola community
Takeaway: Early-stage companies advance AI adoption when they can test ideas with customers and peers in a supportive local network - Pensacola MESS Hall – AI Community Night
Adults-only, hands-on exploration of how AI works and how it is used, co-created by local AI professionals and the Brazilian visitors; Food support was provided by Marriott International.
Takeaway: Interactive, public-facing activities pull in new audiences, spark meaningful conversation, and build interest in future programs - Roundtable with Local Innovators
Conversation with Jerry Pratt (Persona AI) and Peter Neuhaus (OxeFit) on AI in robotics and fitness technology
Takeaway: Practical demos and case studies make it easier to talk about workforce needs, product-market fit, and responsible deployment. - Exchange Café at Seville Quarter
Casual dialogue with residents, educators, students, and technologists over coffee and tea
Takeaway: Unstructured time with the community surfaces new ideas, partnerships, and questions that formal meetings may miss.
- Visit Pensacola Welcome Center
Brief welcome and local orientation
Takeaway: Strong hospitality partners help visiting professionals connect with the place and its people, which strengthens the professional exchange
“Visitors and locals explored AI side by side, proving that innovation grows when people can ask questions, test ideas, and learn together.”
Why It Matters
For Our Community
This program introduced close to 100 new neighbors to our work and drew participants from across the region. It also showcased local talent, strengthened relationships among educators and industry, and supported a beloved science center. The Marriott International grant helped us extend warm hospitality, which is key to strong professional exchange.
For Our Nation
AI touches national security, economic growth, and everyday life. By connecting U.S. and Brazilian professionals and a journalist who reports on AI, this IVLP advanced practical collaboration, transparent discussion, and shared problem-solving that benefits American communities and our partners abroad.
Thank You to Our Partners
Pensacola MESS Hall, Marriott International, City of Pensacola, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, CO:LAB Pensacola, Kukua Institute, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Ben Cheatham of Wunderlabs AI, Visit Pensacola, Persona AI, OxeFit, Seville Quarter, and Sarah Adams, Chuck Monteiro Barbora, Simon Dahdal, Brannon Hogue, and Rob Murrer, local AI professionals and community members who gave their time and insight.
Your enthusiasm and expertise made Northwest Florida an outstanding place to explore AI in action.
At the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition with a legacy robot