Gerd Leonhard

Gerd Leonhard – The Good Future: People – Planet – Purpose – Prosperity.

Over the past two decades, Gerd Leonhard has become one of the world’s top 10 futurist keynote speakers. With over 2,000 engagements in more than 60 countries since 2004 and a total audience of more than 2.5 million people, he has been listed by Wired Magazine as one of Europe’s 100 most influential people and described by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the leading media futurists in the world.”

Gerd Leonhard is a futurist and humanist, a public intellectual, and a global keynote speaker, advisor, and filmmaker. He is also a renowned author on the future. His guiding principle is “People, Planet, Purpose & Prosperity.” In his keynotes, he shares essential insights about the future and practical wisdom. Gerd Leonhard is a strong advocate of The Good Future – offering an optimistic, hopeful, and pragmatic perspective on what lies ahead.

Gerd Leonhard: “First, we imagine something, and then we create the future!”

Gerd Leonhard’s work centers on the future of humanity and technology, addressing key topics such as digital ethics, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the economic, social, and political consequences of exponential technological change. His keynotes, presentations, and seminars are known for their powerful, provocative, yet inspiring, humorous, and personal style.

Gerd Leonhard Keynote Topics

• Keynote – The Good Future

The world is changing faster than ever, driven by profound geopolitical shifts, prolonged global conflicts, escalating climate crises, and the breathtaking speed of technological advancement – particularly with the meteoric rise of AI. What was once unimaginable or deemed impossible is rapidly becoming the new normal, and science fiction is turning into science fact. While excitement about groundbreaking technologies is real, so is the growing concern about the future. How can we redefine the future as “good” and make it a reality? How can humanity move beyond astonishing scientific breakthroughs and cool technological tools toward greater collaboration and well-being?

Gerd Leonhard believes that The Good Future is not only possible but achievable – and in this keynote, he explores how to make it happen. He tackles crucial questions, such as the significance of human values in a world dominated by machines and algorithms, the evolving relationship between humans and technology, the future of work, and the ethics of technological advancement.

• Keynote – Examining Techno-Optimism

In this keynote, Gerd Leonhard warns against blind techno-optimism and the assumption that exponential technological progress will solve all societal problems. He critiques the almost cult-like worship of technology, as advocated by figures like Marc Andreessen, and highlights risks such as loss of trust, disinformation, job displacement, and surveillance. Instead of unconditional acceleration, he advocates for a balanced perspective – one that considers both opportunities and unintended consequences. He calls for a holistic approach that prioritizes not just economic and geopolitical gains but also humanity, ethics, and sustainability.

Despite his critical outlook, Leonhard remains optimistic: technology should be used consciously to enhance human well-being. The future does not belong to technology alone but to humans who use it responsibly. This keynote is for those who seek to shape technological advancements not just faster, but wiser – for a sustainable, human-centric future.

• Keynote – Beyond AI: What Truly Matters in Tech & Society by 2030

AI has become a general-purpose technology and the core platform for numerous innovations. However, it is neither a panacea nor the magical key that many entrepreneurs, tech moguls, and Silicon Valley investors imagine. It is time to look beyond AI. As we prepare for the future, we must also engage with five hyper-exponential technological disruptors: quantum computing, nuclear fusion, synthetic biology & nanotechnology, genome editing, and geoengineering. At the same time, one essential question remains: What kind of future do we want to create?

In this keynote, Gerd Leonhard outlines what to expect by 2030 and how these technological breakthroughs will intersect with major societal shifts, including the climate crisis, tech regulation, the influence of Generations Y and Z, global demographic changes, and key geopolitical megatrends.

• Keynote – Everything Synthetic: The Algorithmic Society?

Artificial intelligence is increasingly generating media and content that are almost indistinguishable from human creations – especially in the fast-paced digital world. Today, around 50% of people get their news from social media platforms largely controlled by AI-driven algorithms. With AI steering the internet, fake narratives will inevitably disrupt financial markets and influence political decisions. Emerging technologies such as augmented reality, the metaverse, and spatial computing promise boundless connectivity. But what happens to genuine human connection when most content is synthetic and most decisions are made by algorithms? How can we protect democracy, authentic emotions, and personal happiness from growing digital dehumanization?

In this keynote, Gerd Leonhard highlights what the near future holds and how we can counteract the loss of humanity in a world increasingly run by algorithms. He explores how exponential technologies can be used more meaningfully and why human connection is now more vital than ever.

“Algorithms know the price of everything but the feeling of nothing.”

Who Is Gerd Leonhard?

From professional artist to internet entrepreneur, author, and now a visionary thinker, speaker, and CEO of The Futures Agency in Zurich—Gerd Leonhard has had a remarkable journey.

In 1985, he won the Quincy Jones Award at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and spent 12 years as a professional guitarist, composer, and producer. He then transitioned into the internet and digital media industry, founding multiple startups in San Francisco between 1994 and 2004. After the dot-com crash and the 9/11 crisis, he returned to Europe, where he discovered his passion for futurism and, in 2007, founded The Futures Agency, a global network of over 40 leading futurists, speakers, and thought leaders.

Gerd Leonhard: “The future is already here – we just haven’t paid enough attention!”

We are rushing headlong into a machine-driven world, where our humanity is increasingly challenged and questioned. Gerd Leonhard urges us to reflect on the core human values we must stand for before being human loses its meaning forever.

He travels the world speaking at top conferences, events, and seminars, helping individuals, businesses, and governments navigate future shocks and proactively shape the change they want to see.

As an influential author, he co-wrote the visionary book The Future of Music and has published five additional books, including his bestseller Technology vs. Humanity, which is available in 11 languages.

His films on the future of technology and humanity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence have reached millions of viewers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) and serves on advisory boards for research institutes in India and Canada. He lives in Zurich and presents in both English and German.

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