Gerd Leonhard

Gerd Leonhard is a globally renowned futurist and bestselling author who specialises in navigating the Intelligence Revolution, digital ethics, and human-centred technology. Ranked among the world's top futurists and recognised by Wired magazine as one of Europe's most influential voices, he has delivered over 2,000 keynote presentations to organisations including Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Google, and the European Commission. His latest work champions Europe's "Sovereignty-by-Design" approach to AI and advocates for technology that adapts to human needs rather than the reverse. Through his cinematic keynote style and thought leadership on topics from generative AI to the "Green is the New Digital" sustainability revolution, Gerd empowers audiences to future-proof their organisations whilst preserving human values, innovation, and long-term strategic thinking.

Over the past two decades, Gerd Leonhard has delivered more than 2,000 keynote presentations to global organisations including Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Google, Visa, and the European Commission, establishing himself as one of the world's most sought-after voices on the Intelligence Revolution. His latest work focuses on navigating the profound shifts brought by artificial intelligence, advocating for what he calls Europe's "Sovereignty-by-Design" approach to AI governance. Ranked among the top futurists globally and recognised by Wired magazine as one of Europe's most influential thinkers, Gerd champions a vision he calls "The Good Future", built on four pillars: People, Planet, Purpose, and Prosperity. His 2026 keynote topic, "Navigating the Intelligence Revolution", addresses the urgent challenges of super-stupidity, the end of solitude, and the risks of mental atrophy when organisations outsource critical thinking to machines.

As the bestselling author of Technology vs Humanity: The Coming Clash Between Man and Machine, Gerd has built his reputation on challenging the dominant Silicon Valley narrative that prioritises scale and automation over human values. His recent presentations at events such as NOVA DAY 2026 have introduced the concept of "Green is the New Digital", connecting sustainability with digital transformation and arguing that nations with strong environmental commitments can set higher standards for how AI operates. A former professional musician who won Berklee College's Quincy Jones Award in 1985, Gerd later founded several internet start-ups in San Francisco before returning to Europe in 2002 to pursue his calling as a futurist. Now a filmmaker, Royal Society of the Arts fellow, and visiting professor at Fundação Dom Cabral in Brazil, he hosts TheFutureShow web series and leads TheFuturesAgency, a global network of leading futurists. His insights appear regularly in The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, and Wired UK, and he has featured on BBC, CNN, and ARTE.

Gerd's keynotes are celebrated for their cinematic format and hard-hitting yet accessible style, combining provocative insights with practical guidance. He helps audiences understand that the future belongs not to companies that replace human thinking with AI, but to those that use technology as an accelerator whilst preserving their capacity to innovate, solve problems, and make ethical decisions. By challenging organisations to adopt AI that adapts to human needs rather than forcing humans to adapt to technology, Gerd equips leaders with the frameworks needed to future-proof their strategies whilst maintaining trust, creativity, and long-term value. Based in Zurich and often working from Lanzarote, he continues to inspire fresh thinking on how humanity can harness exponential change without losing sight of what makes us fundamentally human.