Kate O’Neill

A Tech Humanist Look At The Future Of Work

From AI-enabled recruitment systems to virtual presence robots, even the workplace of the present can seem a little strange. But what do emerging and exponential technologies mean for the future of human jobs? It no longer sounds alarmist to say that at least some parts of our jobs are probably going to be replaced by automation or by cognitive computing. Depending on which forecast you consult, as many as half of all job categories risk displacement, if not complete replacement, by machines in the years to come. There will certainly be impacts on the economy, on production, on efficiencies of scale, and on innovation. But beyond the economic impacts, how will this shift our human understanding of meaningful work, of accomplishment, of achievement? And how can companies prepare for workplaces that increasingly blend human and machine contributions? This thought-provoking and ultimately inspiring talk from Kate O’Neill, author of Tech Humanist, offers clarity, encouragement, and a thoughtful approach for business leaders to adapt to the big changes ahead while grounding the discussion in the timeless fundamentals of humanity.

Tech Humanist: How Business Can Succeed By Making Technology Better For Humanity

IDEAL FOR: corporate leaders, technology leaders, business audiences

• Considers data analytics, connected devices and the Internet of Things, wearable technology, geo-tagged and geo-targeted social media, surveillance, sensors and beacons, and so on.
• Provokes thinking beyond the customer context to a holistic human experience that blends online and offline interactions.
• Advocates building lifetime value through relevant and respectful use of data.
• Advocates strategic purpose as an aligning tool for the organization in modeling data and deploying technology for digital transformation.
• Explores the relationship between meaning, intention, data tracking, and human experience.
• Offers practical insights on how businesses can harness data and technology to create innovative experiences that form the basis of more meaningful and profitable relationships with customers.

AI, Automation, and the Future of Meaningful Human Experience

AI and intelligent automation are evolving rapidly, but what does it mean for business? For associations and organizations? For us as a society?

In this continually-updating keynote address, Kate O’Neill — widely known as the “Tech Humanist” — examines both the implications of adapting business strategy around exponential technologies.

She also offers practical insights on how businesses can harness what is fundamental about data and technology to create innovative experiences that form the basis of more meaningful and profitable relationships with customers — and how they can avoid scaling the unintended consequences of poorly-thought-out designs and technologies.

Better Technology For The Future Of Humanity And Why We All Need To Build It

IDEAL FOR: technology events wanting to emphasize diversity and inclusion; diversity and inclusion events wanting to emphasize technology

• Considers that emerging technologies and the technologies of the future are increasingly immersive, and the data about us that shapes our everyday experiences, both online and offline, will increasingly affect our surroundings, our opportunities, and our well-being in seamless, holistic ways.
• Advocates for women, People of Color, and others who have historically had less input into the direction of technology to be able to lead the way forward.
• Argues for building the best futures for the most people.
• Offers encouragement, clarity, and practical steps for a more diverse and inclusive group of humans to influence the future of human experiences.

Humanity At Scale: Data, Emerging Tech, And The Future Of Meaningful Human Experience

IDEAL FOR: corporate audiences, industry conferences

• Considers the emphasis in business on artificial intelligence, automation of various kinds, and digital transformation.
• Proposes that the future of human experiences – and even the future of humanity itself – can feel uncertain.
• Explores the relationship between meaning, intention, data tracking, and human experience.
• Presents the case for why the future of humanity is in creating more meaningful, dimensional, and integrated experiences.
• Offers practical insights on how businesses can harness data and technology to create innovative experiences that form the basis of more meaningful and profitable relationships with customers.
• Demonstrates how emerging technologies like chatbots, wearables, IoT devices, and more can be included in this kind of human-centric strategy.