Chris Barton Keynote Speaker

Engaging with inventor and keynote speaker Chris Barton is an experience that leaves you believing in the limitless potential of ideas. His infectious enthusiasm for turning seemingly unattainable concepts into reality is remarkable. One of Chris’s latest innovations, Guard, employs AI to detect drowning in swimming pools, a feat never achieved before. However, Chris is most renowned for creating Shazam, the revolutionary app that altered the way we discover music and laid the foundation for today’s consumer AI industry. With over 2 billion downloads, Shazam stands as a global sensation and ranks as Apple’s sixth-largest acquisition. This app, which identifies songs seemingly out of nowhere, is akin to magic. Chris, who holds 12 patents, has also significantly contributed to the early developments at Google and Dropbox. He credits his dyslexia for his ability to find unique solutions to challenges and achieve ambitious goals. In his presentations, Chris discusses his “Start From Zero” thinking approach, which involves questioning established norms and defying conventional wisdom. His compelling narrative captivates audiences, inspiring them to achieve extraordinary feats in their own organizations.

Chris’s upbringing was international, with a French mother and British father, both university professors. Despite this academic environment, Chris struggled in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Over time, he learned to see his dyslexia as a superpower, a perspective that has helped him surmount numerous challenges.

Take Shazam, for instance. Chris, while not claiming to be a broad expert on AI’s future, embarked on a pioneering journey in AI when he envisioned identifying music through a mobile phone. This idea faced skepticism, with experts from MIT and Stanford deeming such pattern recognition impossible. Chris not only had to invent new technology but also build a search engine supercomputer, create the world’s largest music database, and design a user-friendly experience on basic mobile phones. Despite expert doubts, Chris never wavered in his belief.

Founded in 2000, Shazam was ahead of its time, launching three years before iTunes, seven years before the iPhone, and eight years before the App Store. The early years were challenging, with the company nearly facing bankruptcy for six years until digital advancements allowed Shazam to realize its full potential.

In 2018, Apple acquired Shazam, along with its 200 employees, in its sixth-largest acquisition ever. Today, Shazam, with over two billion downloads, is one of the world’s most popular apps, seamlessly integrating into our daily lives by identifying songs and providing music information. The app’s cultural impact is evident, even inspiring the game show “Beat Shazam,” hosted by Jamie Foxx on Fox Network.

Chris’s tech contributions extend beyond Shazam. He was a founding member of Google’s Android Partnerships team, developing Android’s mobile operator partnership framework, and spent four years at Dropbox leading carrier partnerships, being among the company’s first 100 employees.

With 12 patents to his name, including one in the Google search algorithm, Chris has left an indelible mark on the tech industry. He also invests in various startups, ranging from AI for heart health to inflammatory disease therapeutics. Currently, Chris is focused on building Guard, his third startup, which uses AI to detect drowning in swimming pools.

As a speaker, Chris Barton shares insights from his journey of achieving the impossible, and motivating others to tackle their challenges with a fresh perspective.