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ICAT Playdate — Reimagining 1001 Arabian Nights Through Generative AI

September 25, 2026

Person interacting with an immersive floor-to-ceiling digital projection featuring a glowing tree, animated visual effects, and a fantasy-inspired environment in an interactive visualization space.

Reimagining 1001 Arabian Nights is an interdisciplinary creative research project that explores how generative artificial intelligence, immersive media, and spatial storytelling can reinterpret one of the world's most influential literary works for contemporary audiences. Grounded in historical research, the project re-centers women's voices by adapting a selected story into an immersive storytelling experience. Through an iterative workflow that integrates historical scholarship, narrative design, AI-generated imagery and animation, spatial sound design, and immersive visualization, the project develops a culturally grounded methodology for AI-assisted storytelling while examining the opportunities and challenges presented by the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI in creative practice and public engagement.

Speaker: 

  • Eiman Elgewely, College of Architecture, Arts, and Design

Date:

  • September 25, 2026

Time:  

  • 8:30am Eastern
     Networking & pastries at Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation District LLC
  • 9am - 9:30am Eastern
     Presentation in the Community Assembly and live on YouTube

Virginia Tech faculty can receive Professional Development Network (PDN) credit for attending

  1. Register at https://profdev.tlos.vt.edu/?query=playdate 
  2. Check in with Phyllis Newbill during the event.

Location: Community Assembly, Creativity and Innovation District LLC