Richard Yonck is an international keynote speaker, global futurist and best-selling author who journeys with audiences into the future to explore the potential impacts of emerging trends and technologies on business, industry and society. His clients include global Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Samsung, and Xerox, industry associations and organizations including TIAA, American Cancer Society, and government and NGOs that include UNDP, NATO and the Washington State education board.
As an international keynote speaker, Richard explores emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, healthcare, biotechnology and genetics, transportation, robotics, and future innovation. Richard guides audiences in understanding many of the key considerations and societal ramifications of these advances to help identify and work toward a preferred future.
With a background in computer science and media, Richard is keenly aware of the many opportunities and challenges that result from the advancement and convergence of developing technologies. His focus is to always remember that at the center of all of these transformations, we want the future to remain beneficial and conducive to human experience.
Richard is an avid writer and thought leader whose latest book, Future Minds explores the origins and future of human and artificial intelligence. His previous book, Heart of the Machine studies the future of the emerging technologies that allow computers and robots to read, interpret, and influence human emotions. Now in its second edition, it is required reading at several universities in the U.S. and around the world.
Richard covers AI and emerging technologies for the technology news website GeekWire. He’s been published by and quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, Forbes, Wired, Fast Company, BBC News and many more. Formerly an executive board member of the Association of Professional Futurists, Richard is also a member of the National Association of Science Writers and a TED speaker. He believes that strategic foresight and futures planning can serve everyone and is an impassioned advocate about the many benefits of futures thinking and science literacy.