Richard Yonck Keynote Speaker

Global Futurist and Consultant
International Keynote Speaker
Best-selling author of "Future Minds" and "Heart of the Machine”

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Richard Yonck's Biography

Richard Yonck is a futurist and best-selling author who has inspired global audiences with his dynamic keynotes about the future of technology and society. A highly sought-after speaker, he draws on his experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the technology sector to provide a unique perspective on how innovation is changing our businesses and our world.

Since 2007, Richard has been the lead futurist at Intelligent Future Consulting, a futures consultancy that focuses on emerging trends and technologies and their implications for industry and government. He has more than 25 years of experience as a Computer Systems Analyst and Science Program Writer. He served as a Computing/AI Contributing Editor for The Futurist magazine and an Executive Board Member/Treasurer for the Association of Professional Futurists.

As a keynote speaker, Richard has also lectured extensively at universities and colleges around the world, including Georgetown University, University of Washington, Sungkyunkwan University (Korea), National Economics University (Vietnam), University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and University of Turku (Finland).

In 2020, Richard published Future Minds, a deep dive into the numerous ways in which our world is growing increasingly intelligent. It was a follow-up to his 2017 book, Heart of the Machine, which examines the evolution of computers and robots and their ability to recognise, interpret and respond to emotional stimuli. Both books focus on the future of artificial intelligence and are international bestsellers. They are available in multiple languages, including Chinese.

As a leading expert and pioneer in emerging technologies and trends, Richard has written for top publications such as Scientific American, Fast Company, World Future Review, GeekWire, Salon, and American Cinematographer. His work has been featured and quoted in other publications such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, BBC News, Wired, Puget Sound Business Journal, Singularity Hub and Investor’s Business Daily. He has also made guest appearances on numerous radio programs and podcasts.

Richard has spoken at conferences around the world, including TEDx, where he examines emerging technologies across all sectors, from agriculture to education, healthcare, government, and information technology. By exploring potential scenarios and changes and envisioning unanticipated consequences of those changes, Richard has provided strategic guidance for companies such as Samsung, Amazon and Xerox, working to help them identify their preferred futures.

Spatial AI, Digital Assistants and the Future of Hybrid Intelligence

The next advances in AI will transform nearly everything about our world, allowing us to interact with our technologies in ways we can barely imagine. How can we ensure this technology helps us to build a better tomorrow?

Building the Innovation Ecosystem of Tomorrow

Innovation is key how we build the future. What could the future of the startup ecosystem look in ten or twenty years as we continue to innovate innovation itself?

Automation, Employment & the Future of the Workforce

Augmented Reality Docent. AI Wrangler. Genetics Interpreter. Digital Reputation Scrubber. VR Addiction Counselor. These are just a few of the new jobs we’ll be seeing in the near future. How do we adapt to a world that no longer needs people for many tasks? How can we prepare for jobs that don’t yet even exist?

Healthcare 2045: The Amazing Era of Hyper-Personalized Medicine

Next-generation gene therapies. Micro-interventions. mRNA-based cancer vaccines. Vastly extended healthspans and lifespans. Learn how the future of medicine will transform our very definitions of health, wellness and mortality.

Building Your Organization’s Future Resilience

The 2020 pandemic broke the global supply chain and experts said it would take be five years before it’s fully functional again. How can we improve our future resilience to better weather the next worldwide crisis?

The New Era of Emotion AI: When Machines Understand Our Feelings

Our devices are becoming increasingly able to read, interpret and influence our emotions. Learn about the amazing future of Emotion AI from the author of the best-selling book, HEART OF THE MACHINE.

Cultivating the Future AgriTech

One of civilization’s oldest activities is being transformed by 21st century technology. From vertical farming to artificial pollinators to alternate proteins, how will AgriTech help us save the planet?

The Future is Human: Finding Our Path in a Continually Changing World

How can we ensure the future remains aligned with human life, values and experience? Explore the challenges and strategies that will help us become good stewards of the future, for ourselves and the planet.