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Byron Reese

AI Expert, Optimistic Futurist, Tech Entrepreneur, WSJ Best-Selling Author of 5 Books Translated into 13 Languages

With 25+ years as a successful tech entrepreneur, Byron speaks on the transformative effect of technology on the workplace and society at large. He captivates audiences worldwide sharing how technology is empowering us to build a better world, inviting people to imagine this better world and build it.

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Bio

With over 25 years as a successful tech entrepreneur, Byron Reese is uniquely suited to speak on the transformative effect of technology on the workplace and society at large.

Byron delights audiences worldwide and has been invited to share his reasoned optimism and vivid and energetic presentations on the future with audiences on every continent, including Antarctica.

Known as the “Future of” guy, Byron has spoken on the future of AI, the future of work, the future of banking, the future of education, the future of the planet, the future of agriculture, the future of finance, and the list goes on. When not speaking, he writes books that explore the intersection of technology and humanity and covers topics such as robotics, consciousness, progress, natural resources, and superorganisms.

Bloomberg Businessweek credits Byron with having “quietly pioneered a new breed of media company.” The Financial Times of London reported that he “is typical of the new wave of internet entrepreneurs out to turn the economics of the media industry on its head.” Byron and his work have been featured in hundreds of news outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, NPR, and the LA Times Magazine. Byron holds numerous patents and has started and sold multiple companies, including two NASDAQ IPOs.

As a lifelong entrepreneur with multiple IPOs and successful exits, Byron frequently speaks to business audiences on how to excel in the world of tomorrow and how to deploy technology successfully.

He states: “Technology multiplies human ability. That’s its trick. It magnifies us. We can move more bricks with a forklift than we can on our backs. Technological advancement is not to be feared; rather, it should be welcomed, for by enhancing human ability, we enhance our productivity and, therefore, our standard of living. This is why we live so much more lavish and prosperous lives than our great-grandparents. An hour of our time is vastly more productive than was an hour of theirs.”

With a gift for storytelling, Byron captivates audiences worldwide with the message that technology is empowering us to build a better world, and he invites his listeners to imagine this better world and build it.

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Keynotes

Featured Keynote

AI & Employment - How Robots Create Human Jobs

"Daily, the media greets readers with a variant of “THE ROBOTS ARE COMING FOR YOUR JOB!” The logic is simple: Everyday Robots get smarter, learn faster, and they will never ask for a raise. But Byron believes this simplistic reasoning is entirely wrong. "Just as electricity and the assembly line weren’t bad for workers, in spite of shrill predictions otherwise, AI and robots won’t be either," he says. "In fact, they will create so many new jobs that our bigger problem will be a labor shortage."

Sharing insights from his upcoming book, "The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers and the Future of Humanity," to be released Nov. 2017 by Simon & Schuster, Byron invites his audience to meet him at the start of the Industrial Revolution, to explore from there the many advances leading to today's technological age, and then to dare to explore the vast possibilities of the future, the coming Fourth Age.

This talk is structured to be highly customizable to specific industries or can be presented to a general audience. Byron delivers a calm and factual analysis concluding that our best days are certainly ahead of us.

AI & Employment - The Future of Work

AI & Employment - The Future of Work

While audience members once commonly asked, "What should I teach my kids to make sure they have a job in the future,” today, says Byron they ask, 'What do I need to learn to stay relevant in the future?' And, 'How do I keep from falling behind?' Everyone agrees that technology is changing the world. The question is how should we change in response to it? In this talk, Byron tells the story of technology's advancement from the invention of language until today. He explores what's to come in the next decade, and examines what we individuals can do to make the most of changing times.

What skills are useful to have? Which technologies should we adopt? How will technology affect the workplace, the home, and society in general? In this empowering talk, Byron suggests that the future is not going to be a frightening place where humans become displaced, but rather "one in which the things that make us human become incredibly valuable. We are entering a world of more choice and more opportunity than ever before," says Bryon, and "the best response is to expand our dreams and expectations, not our fears and concerns."

This highly customizable talk can be tailored to specific industries or can be presented to a general audience.
Techno-Optimism - The Coming Golden Age of Humanity

Techno-Optimism - The Coming Golden Age of Humanity

In this compelling talk, Byron demonstrates how current technological changes will ultimately bring about the end of poverty, disease, hunger, ignorance, and war. Byron explores how these historical problems of humanity are fundamentally problems of technology, and thus will have technological solutions, solutions we will find much sooner than is commonly believed.
Techno-Optimism - How to Change the World for Centuries to Come

Techno-Optimism - How to Change the World for Centuries to Come

The world has, throughout human history, changed. Almost always, this change is for the better. Through civilization, we have raised life expectancy, the standard of living, access to education, and political liberty. How has this change been brought about? Largely through the actions of individuals driven to change the world. This talk focuses on how that change happens and looks at how virtually any individual can literally have worldwide effect on the history of the planet.
Techno-Optimism - Big Data and the Perfectibility of Humanity

Techno-Optimism - Big Data and the Perfectibility of Humanity

More data is created every day that was created in the entire 19th Century. And within that data lies to the answers to the vexing problems of life. Automatic computer programs will scour the data for associations that will be turned into algorithms to optimize every decision we have to make in life. And while we may not always choose to do those things, it will effectively make every person on the planet vastly wiser than the wisest person who has ever lived. In the future, no one will ever need to make a mistake again. While this sounds like a technical talk, the wide use of real examples makes it suitable for any audience.
Business & Leadership - How to Innovate in a Rapidly Changing World

Business & Leadership - How to Innovate in a Rapidly Changing World

No matter what industry you are in, you probably have a sense that you are in one of those radical disruptive periods where everything seems to be changing. You might be wondering when it is all going to settle down so you can take a bit of a breather.

This talk explores how businesses that operate in industries that are undergoing dramatic changes can function and be successful. While traditional futurists seldom bridge the gap between “here is what is going to happen” and “here is how you profit from it,” Byron explores how it is that radical technology advance creates new multi-billion dollar companies and destroys old ones.
Business & Leadership - The Next Seven Years

Business & Leadership - The Next Seven Years

What would you have foreseen seven years ago? There were no self-driving cars or Apple watches. Would you have seen the transformative effect that tablets and smartphones would have? The next seven years will have much more change than the prior seven years. We know this. And this is the change we need to begin preparing for.
Technology & Education - The Future of Education

Technology & Education - The Future of Education

The University system is a 12th Century French invention that remains to this day largely unchanged from it origins in the Middle Ages. Our K-12 system is a 19th Century German invention designed to produce homogenous factory workers. It too remains unchanged since the late 1800s. Now, we find ourselves in a world that has changed in ways no one expected. Now, the two most important job skills are teaching yourself new skills and working collaboratively with a team, neither of which are taught in our existing framework. How should education change? How will it? What skills will ensure that a person can economically contribute in a world of radical technological change?

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Artificial Intelligence Trending
Business Growth / Strategy / Trends Trending

Technology / Alternate Technology

Byron Reese Speaking Reel

Byron Reese Splash Video

Byron Reese Demo Reel - “The Future Will be Amazing”

Achieving Greatness Is A Choice: Byron Reese at TEDxAustin

Byron presents "Achieving Greatness Is A Choice," at TEDxAustin

How to tell if your job will be robot-proof

BNN Bloomberg's Jon Erlichman explores how advancements in AI and robotics could shape the future of human life in an interview with Byron Reese, author of 'The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity'.

Byron speaks about "The Fourth Age," on C-SPAN.

Byron Reese talked about his book, The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity, on artificial intelligence and its future applications. In his work he posits that only three times previously has technology transformed human life prior to the present age of artificial intelligence and robotics: the harnessing of fire, the development of agriculture, and the inventions of the wheel and writing.

How AI Will Transform the Enterprise of Tomorrow by JEREMY GOLDMAN — Mar 7, 2017

The Austin-based technologist believes that, over time, it's going to get much easier for the C-suite to incorporate AI across the enterprise. After all, it's not something like SEO or email marketing; it's something that has the potential to permeate those functions, not to mention every department in the company (more on that later).

The Peril of Inaction with Artificial Intelligence FEB 10, 2017

Business quiz: What do these company name abbreviations stand for: AT&T. 3M. NCR. Geico. Did you know them all? If so, well done. The answers: American Telephone & Telegraph, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, National Cash Register, and Government Employees Insurance Co.

A World of Inspiration

Byron Reese on DisrupTV

An interview with Byron on DisrupTV.

2021 WASTED: How Humans Squander Time, Money, and Natural Resources, and What to Do About It
2018 The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity
2013 Infinite Progress: How the Internet and Technology Will End Ignorance, Disease, Poverty, Hunger, and War

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“Byron presents his vision of the future: humanity advancing subconsciously via our seamless integration with technology. Every heartbeat becomes a data point bringing us one step closer to unlocking the mysteries of humankind. Every person's life contributes to the greater good, simply through the act of living. I found his talk to be highly enthusiastic, visually engaging, and hopeful.”

Alison Kawa, Founder of Social Sonar, Crowd Conference Attendee

"Byron Reese presented to our professional organization of about 200. Prior to the event, Byron conferred with me twice to construct a thorough understanding of the audience and my desires for the presentation. The ultimate delivery was a 45-minute talk that engaged my audience, making complex subjects not only relatable to the crowd but topical to their business environment. Byron delivered what he promised: a customized presentation that provided an insightful and uplifting backdrop to further discussion on technological trends. I am very grateful that Byron stayed after the presentation to meet the audience and offer autographs to everyone. We look forward to working with Byron again!"

Brent Dohogne, CPCU Society

“Byron took the audience for a ride into his future. As an astrophysicist and a data scientist, I often think about the future, but I was struck about Byron's precise dissection of how our future is and will be determined by the data that is already starting to shape our lives: our self-generated data. Byron's vibrant and precise delivery painted in everyone's mind a picture of the positive future we all thought was likely but perhaps unreachable. Byron dared everyone, including himself, to make this future possible, and led us on a journey of discovery we never wanted to end.”

Dr. Alberto Conti, Archive Scientist at STSI and former Hubble Chief Engineer

"At a time when tech finds itself in a tumultuous period, we were fortunate to have Byron speak to our team about the future of technology. His message was inspiring, hopeful, and optimistic. And he delivered his talk with authenticity and passion. Simply put, he nailed it!"

Frank Thom, Global Head of Industry, Consumer Electronics, Google

“Byron Reese is a fantastic, engaging and entertaining speaker. I saw him give a presentation at the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance and Foundation. I came away learning a lot, seeing new possibilities in the world around me, and coming up with new ways to take action in my life and business. I highly recommend having Byron speak at your next event. He will bring something special and unique.”

Jason Treu, Executive Coach, Author, Social Wealth

"We are so grateful for your time and your speech last week. We received our member feedback and it was extremely positive. Thank you for all the effort you put into crafting something that fit so well with our organization and our theme for the day."

Kelly Brough President and CEO, Denver Metro Chamber

“Byron delivered a fabulous keynote presentation at our signature annual event. His speech was thought-provoking, engaging, and uplifting. I heard many, many compliments from guests.”

Laura S. Eppler, Director of Marketing, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania

"Byron Reese was a hit at our latest meeting! His insights into the how technological advancements could impact our collective future were interesting and thought-provoking to say the very least. Our attendees were discussing his presentation well after the meeting. It was that impressive! Byron was also excellent to work with leading up to the event. As a program planner, I appreciated the opportunity to speak with him well in advance of the meeting. He took the time to learn about our organization and customized his content to reflect our industry. He was professional, polished and definitely a hit with our 200 municipal utility representatives!"

Lauri Isaacson, WPPI Energy

It was a pleasure having Byron Reese on our campus. Not only was his presentation to nearly 400 faculty stimulating and well-received, he also was personable and generous with his time in discussing ideas with faculty before and after the presentation. Byron’s visionary approach and dynamic style provided an instant connection to the audience. ~Robert Neely, Professor of Biology, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Texas Woman’s University

Robert Neely, Professor of Biology, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Texas Woman’s University

“It was a pleasure having Byron Reese on our campus. Not only was his presentation to nearly 400 faculty stimulating and well-received, he also was personable and generous with his time in discussing ideas with faculty before and after the presentation. Byron's visionary approach and dynamic style provided an instant connection to the audience.”

Robert Neely, Professor of Biology, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas Woman's University

Byron Reese

Bio

Keynotes

AI & Employment - How Robots Create Human Jobs

Topics

"At a time when tech finds itself in a tumultuous period, we were fortunate to have Byron speak to our team about the future of technology. His message was inspiring, hopeful, and optimistic. And he delivered his talk with authenticity and passion. Simply put, he nailed it!"

"We are so grateful for your time and your speech last week. We received our member feedback and it was extremely positive. Thank you for all the effort you put into crafting something that fit so well with our organization and our theme for the day."

“Byron delivered a fabulous keynote presentation at our signature annual event. His speech was thought-provoking, engaging, and uplifting. I heard many, many compliments from guests.”

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Byron Reese

Bio

Keynotes

AI & Employment - How Robots Create Human Jobs

AI & Employment - The Future of Work

Techno-Optimism - The Coming Golden Age of Humanity

Techno-Optimism - How to Change the World for Centuries to Come

Techno-Optimism - Big Data and the Perfectibility of Humanity

Business & Leadership - How to Innovate in a Rapidly Changing World

Business & Leadership - The Next Seven Years

Technology & Education - The Future of Education

Topics

"At a time when tech finds itself in a tumultuous period, we were fortunate to have Byron speak to our team about the future of technology. His message was inspiring, hopeful, and optimistic. And he delivered his talk with authenticity and passion. Simply put, he nailed it!"

"We are so grateful for your time and your speech last week. We received our member feedback and it was extremely positive. Thank you for all the effort you put into crafting something that fit so well with our organization and our theme for the day."

“Byron delivered a fabulous keynote presentation at our signature annual event. His speech was thought-provoking, engaging, and uplifting. I heard many, many compliments from guests.”

Let's find your perfect speaker!

Explore

Quick Links

Keep Up To Date