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Keynote SpeakerJonnie Penn

University of Cambridge AI Ethics Professor, Historian of Technology and New York Times Bestselling Author

Dr Jonnie Penn, FRSA, is a historian of technology, #1 NYT bestselling author and technologist. He is Associate Teaching Professor of AI Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge. Jonnie explores the Future of Work for Millennial and Post-Millennials in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He has served as an... Read more

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Popular Talks by Jonnie Penn

  • Making Sand Think: The Hard Ecological Limits on an AI Future

    AI and climate are on a collision course. Data centres will use 20% of global electricity by 2030. How can we allocate resources that do not renew on human timescales?

  • Post Digitalism: Why the Next Tech Backlash Will Be All About Hygiene

    For centuries it was biology that made us sick. Now it is our lifestyles. This talk considers the iatrogenic qualities of digital technologies. They harm us even as we use them to be healthier.

  • Rest Engineering: A Blueprint for AI’s Next Chapter

    ‘Protected time’ gave us modern science. In an era that has forgotten how to rest, rest becomes a form of innovation. This talk introduces Dr Penn’s creation of the Rest Institute.

  • Transformative Turbulence for SMEs: Embracing AI with Social Innovation

    It took four hundred years for the benefits of the printing press to reach the masses. Will the same be true of AI?

  • Anticipating Polycrisis: Why Innovation in the 2020s Isn’t Digital

    A post-war world order premised on thick rules is giving way to one premised on thin rules, or ‘algorithmic thinking.’ This invites a reweaving of our social fabric in ways that AI cannot fake.

  • Generation AI: Generative AI & Society

    Young people see dating apps as stale. Digital fatigue has set in. What does analog culture mean for our supposedly digital future?

  • The Creativity Explosion

    Invent the ship and you invent the shipwreck. Invent AI and you invent… what? This talk tests claims of an AI-led ‘intelligence explosion’ against risks to democracy, markets, and wellbeing.

  • Rest: Reclaiming it and Why it Matters

    How much digital is enough? In a moment marked by burnout and mental anguish, rest can redefine one’s legacy, approach to parenting, and understanding of wealth.

  • Lies, Lies, Lies: Synthetic Misinformation in 2024

    2024 will see 80+ elections across 75+ countries. 3.65 billion people will see thei

Biography

Dr Jonnie Penn, FRSA, is a historian of technology, #1 NYT bestselling author and technologist. He is Associate Teaching Professor of AI Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge.

Jonnie explores the Future of Work for Millennial and Post-Millennials in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He has served as an expert speaker at the United Nations, European Parliament, Council of Europe, Davos, and to the UK House of Lords, as well as for global non-profits and corporations. His thoughts on the direction of AI research have recently been featured in The Economist, IBM Think Leaders, PwC, and elsewhere.

Jonnie serves as a Faculty Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University; a Research Fellow and Teaching Associate at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science; a Research Fellow at St. Edmund’s College; and an Associate Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence.

He was formerly a MIT Media Lab Assembly Fellow, Google Technology Policy Fellow, Fellow of the British National Academy of Writing and a popular broadcaster.

As a teenager, Jonnie co-founded The Buried Life youth movement, a community that asks, “What do you want to do before you die?” The project grew to encompass a cult-hit television series aired in seventy countries. He is currently based in Cambridge, UK.

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What clients say about Jonnie Penn

"Jonnie is an engaging, intelligent and witty speaker who makes the subject of AI accessible to a wide audience." Chief Executive, Ipsos MORI
"He was exceptionally professional and engaging, fantastic at the pre-event briefing and delivered his presentation to the mark, making it personal to us which was great given that it was a pre-record. On the day/night, he went above and beyond, staying up well into the night to deliver a Q&A for our audience." Urban Development Institute of Australia
"Jonnie perfectly combined the aspects of AI as a tool and not a means and the priority of human relations. As our first speaker, he brilliantly opened the minds of our participants to our topic to worthfully enrich any thoughts for their future strategy!" CEO Wort & Bild Verlag

How to book Jonnie Penn as a keynote speaker

How do I book Jonnie Penn for a keynote speech?

You can book Jonnie Penn through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Jonnie's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Jonnie Penn's speaking fees?

Jonnie Penn's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Jonnie tailored to your event.

What topics does Jonnie Penn speak about?

Jonnie Penn speaks on Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Digital, Future & Technology, Future of Work. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Jonnie to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Jonnie Penn available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Jonnie Penn for events worldwide, subject to Jonnie's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Jonnie Penn deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Jonnie Penn is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Jonnie Penn?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Jonnie can accommodate.

Can Jonnie Penn tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Jonnie Penn on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Jonnie can offer.

What languages does Jonnie Penn present in?

Jonnie Penn delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Jonnie Penn a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Jonnie Penn's areas of expertise include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Digital, Future & Technology, Future of Work. To get a clear sense of Jonnie's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Jonnie Penn speak at?

Jonnie Penn can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Digital, Future & Technology, Future of Work is relevant. Details of Jonnie's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Jonnie Penn offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Jonnie Penn is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Jonnie Penn?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Jonnie Penn, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Jonnie's current availability for your dates.