WHAT IS A TECHNOLOGY FUTURIST? TOP KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND TECH EXPERT BREAKS IT DOWN

WHAT IS A TECHNOLOGY FUTURIST? TOP KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND TECH EXPERT BREAKS IT DOWN

Per the dictionary, a technology futurist and tech keynote speaker is someone who analyzes current technology trends and makes predictions about how technology will develop and impact society in the future. But what does that mean in practical terms? Given that we work with dozens of meeting and event planners every year as technology futurists, allow us to take you on a tour of any given workday, which might span:

  • Tracking emerging technologies and research – A consultant in the space keeps up with cutting edge developments in fields like artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and quantum computing to understand what new capabilities are on the horizon.
  • Considering social and economic impacts – Beyond just understanding the technical details of a technology, a technology futurist and keynote speaker thinks about how it might change how people live and work, disrupt industries, and affect culture, policy, and values.
  • Making informed projections – Using insights from research, data, and discussions with experts, a futurist makes thoughtful projections about how existing and emerging technologies could shape the future over 5, 10, or 20+ year timescales.
  • Imagining future scenarios – Futurologists use potential technological breakthroughs to imagine plausible future worlds and societal scenarios that could unfold, both utopian and dystopian.
  • Providing strategic foresight – The best technology futurists synthesize technological possibilities and societal impacts into guidance, recommendations, and foresight that can help governments, companies, and other organizations strategically prepare for and shape future developments.
  • Engaging the public – Leading experts give talks, write books, and contribute to media to engage the general public and spread awareness of technological change and its implications.

 

Just to recap: The world’s best-known technology futurists analyze the potential of scientific and tech advances to forecast where they may take society, business, politics, and culture down the line. Tips, hints and expert advice from leading pros aid organizations in efforts to anticipate and adopt future trends.