Lars Thomsen

Lars Thomsen is a leading European futurist and founder of Swiss think tank Future Matters, recognised for his ability to translate complex trends into strategic foresight that organisations can act upon. With over 25 years advising corporations, institutions and government bodies across Europe, he specialises in artificial intelligence, the future of work, energy transitions and mobility evolution, delivering keynotes that challenge conventional thinking whilst illuminating tangible opportunities ahead. His recent work reframes AI not as a tool but as a fundamental shift in how humans contribute value, helping audiences understand that when answers become abundant, asking the right questions becomes everything. Leaders and teams leave his sessions equipped to navigate disruption with clarity, confidence and a renewed sense of strategic direction.

Over the past 25 years, Lars Thomsen has advised corporations, institutions and government bodies across Europe on the strategic implications of emerging technologies, founding Swiss think tank Future Matters to translate complex trend analysis into actionable foresight. His work spans artificial intelligence, energy transitions, mobility evolution and the future of work, with a particular focus on helping organisations understand not just what is changing, but how to position themselves strategically within those shifts. At AIF 2026, his keynote reframed AI as a fundamental transformation in how humans contribute value, challenging audiences to recognise that when answers become abundant and intelligence becomes scalable, the ability to ask the right questions becomes the most critical skill organisations possess.

Thomsen's influence stems from his ability to interpret disruption through a lens that balances provocation with pragmatism. His research examines the intersections between technological capability and human capacity, exploring how electric mobility, renewable energy systems and intelligent automation are reshaping industries at unprecedented speed. As a serial entrepreneur with a background in information science and membership of the World Future Society in Washington D.C., he combines theoretical rigour with practical commercial insight. His work on world models, the next evolution beyond language-based AI, demonstrates his commitment to staying ahead of the curve, helping leaders understand how systems will soon need to account for physical reality, not just patterns in data. Recent observations on rapid technological adoption in global markets further underscore his commitment to grounding future analysis in real-world evidence rather than speculation.

Audiences leave Thomsen's keynotes with a fundamentally altered perspective on disruption, equipped to navigate uncertainty with clarity and strategic confidence. He delivers tangible frameworks that help teams distinguish between incremental change and structural transformation, enabling organisations to identify where their human talent should focus when machines handle the predictable. His sessions challenge conventional assumptions about productivity, innovation and competitive advantage, replacing anxiety about technological displacement with a renewed sense of purpose around creativity, judgment and the connective work that defines meaningful human contribution. Leaders gain not only foresight into the decade ahead but practical tools to reposition their organisations, their teams and their own thinking for a future where asking better questions matters more than finding faster answers.