> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Richard Stallman to Speak on Software Freedom and AI at Georgia Tech - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/richard-stallman-georgia-tech/ - Published: 2026-01-21T07:13:04.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-21T09:34:11.000Z - Description: The free software pioneer returns to campus. - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: News, Events The free software movement has been around for over four decades now. It started as a response to proprietary software licenses that restricted people from understanding, modifying, or sharing the programs they ran on their computers. At the center of this movement is the [Free Software Foundation](https://www.fsf.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) (FSF), founded in 1985\. It has been the organizational backbone for promoting software freedom, maintaining crucial free software licenses like the [GPL](https://itsfoss.com/open-source-licenses-explained/#:~:text=your%20first%20steps.-,GNU%20General%20Public%20License%20%28GPL%29,-The%20GPL%20is), and supporting projects that respect user rights. [Dr. Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) has been at the forefront of this movement from day one, along with countless other people who joined up to make their collective vision a reality. If you want to hear from him directly, he's speaking at [Georgia Tech](https://www.gatech.edu/?ref=itsfoss.com) on January 23. ## His First U.S. College Talk Since Ages ![this yellow and orange-colored poster shows a wall of text and a picture of dr. richard stallman in the middle, it is titled "gratis talk with dr. richard stallman", with the subtitle "free/libre software and our freedom: our shield against many digital injustices."](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2026/01/richard-stallman-georgia-tech-gratis-talk.jpg) **Poster courtesy of* [**LibreTech Collective*](https://ltc.gtorg.gatech.edu/?ref=itsfoss.com)**.* Marking his return to college speaking, this will be [his first appearance at a U.S. college](https://www.fsf.org/events/fsf-talk-2026-01-23?ref=itsfoss.com) since [his cancer diagnosis](https://itsfoss.com/news/richard-stallman-battling-cancer/) and successful recovery in 2019\. It's also his first visit to Atlanta since the 1990s and h**is first appearance ever at Georgia Tech**, as pointed out [by the organizers](https://www.reddit.com/r/gatech/comments/1prm6if/free%5Fevent%5Fmeet%5Fdr%5Frichard%5Fstallman%5Fcreator%5Fof/?ref=itsfoss.com). The event itself is called "***Gratis Talk with Dr. Richard Stallman***," and is organized by the [LibreTech Collective](https://ltc.gtorg.gatech.edu/2026/01/04/rms/?ref=itsfoss.com), Georgia Tech's [student-run club](https://ltc.gtorg.gatech.edu/?ref=itsfoss.com) that focuses on free, libre, and open source software, hardware, and knowledge. **As for the agenda**, he will be covering the history of software freedom, the evolution of computing, and finally his perspectives on AI. The event is **also serving as a recruitment drive** for the [GNU Project](https://www.gnu.org/home.en.html?ref=itsfoss.com), which is actively looking for contributors. If you are interested in joining up, bringing a resume isn't a bad idea. At the end of his 1-hour talk, Richard will be open to questions from the audience, so be sure [to note down your thoughts](https://itsfoss.com/joplin/)! 📝 ## Why The Long Delay? Stallman resigned from his positions at MIT and the FSF in [September 2019](https://www.fsf.org/news/richard-m-stallman-resigns?ref=itsfoss.com) following [controversy over comments he made](https://itsfoss.com/richard-stallman-controversy/) about deceased MIT scientist [Marvin Minsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin%5FMinsky?ref=itsfoss.com) and the Jeffrey Epstein case. After that, he largely stepped back from public speaking engagements in the United States, particularly at colleges and universities. While he has [given talks internationally](https://www.stallman.org/talks.html?ref=itsfoss.com) recently, including appearances in Finland, Germany, and Italy, this Georgia Tech event marks his return to the U.S. college speaking in quite some time. ## Event Details and Registration If you are around the state of [Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia%5F%28U.S.%5Fstate%29?ref=itsfoss.com) and are interested in having some fun, grounded conversations with fellow free software and open source enthusiasts, why not attend it? There's also going to be lots of [cool FSF merchandise](https://shop.fsf.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) to be had for cash donations, so be sure to carry some! The **event details** are as follows: - ***Time*** 🕰: January 23, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 05:00 PM. - **Venue** 🏢: Room #100, Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. (*searchable on* [*CoMaps*](https://comaps.at/4mgVV08lQr/Scheller%5FCollege%5Fof%5FBusiness?ref=itsfoss.com) *and* [*Google Maps*](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JKaLxysCf8sp7TNe8?ref=itsfoss.com)) - ***Tickets*** 🎟: Not required; **this is a free event**. Just show up and look for an empty seat! Via: [FOSS Force](https://fossforce.com/2026/01/its-official-richard-stallman-will-speak-at-georgia-tech-on-january-23/?ref=itsfoss.com)