
David Hanson
Founder of Hanson Robotics, blending science, art, and AI to revolutionize how humans connect with emotionally responsive, expressive robots.
Founder of Hanson Robotics, blending science, art, and AI to revolutionize how humans connect with emotionally responsive, expressive robots.
David Hanson is a visionary innovator at the forefront of artificial general intelligence and human-robot interaction. As the creator of Sophia the robot and founder of Hanson Robotics, he explores how lifelike, emotionally intelligent machines can transform business, research, and society. His keynotes offer forward-thinking insights into the future of AI, ethics, and the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent systems.
David Hanson, PhD, is a globally recognized innovator in artificial general intelligence (AGI), robotics, and human-machine interaction. As the founder and CEO of Hanson Robotics, he is best known for creating Sophia the robot—an iconic symbol of lifelike AI and expressive robotics that has captured global attention.
Keynote Speaker David Hanson merges cognitive science, engineering, neuroscience, and the arts to design humanoid robots that engage in meaningful, emotionally intelligent interactions. His work pushes the boundaries of machine learning, value alignment, and the future of AGI—making him a vital voice for organizations navigating digital transformation.
With experience spanning NASA, academic research, and award-winning innovation, David brings unique, future-focused insights that help leaders understand how AI and robotics will impact their industries, customers, and teams. His keynotes are known for being visionary, thought-provoking, and immediately relevant to real-world challenges.
Whether you're exploring the future of work, ethical AI, customer experience, or innovation strategy, his keynotes provide a compelling blend of storytelling, science, and actionable foresight.
Book David Hanson for your event to engage your audience with the latest breakthroughs in AI and robotics—and prepare your organization to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
This keynote explores how lifelike humanoid robots—such as Sophia—are set to transform the way we live, work, and interact in the coming decades. As robotics and AI become more emotionally intelligent and socially aware, their integration into everyday life will reshape industries including healthcare, education, hospitality, and customer service.
Audiences will gain insight into how human-robot collaboration can enhance productivity, foster empathy-driven experiences, and address labor shortages and aging populations. The session also tackles critical questions around ethics, trust, and value alignment, offering a thoughtful perspective on what it means to coexist with intelligent machines.
Blending scientific insight with real-world applications, the keynote provides a forward-looking vision of how organizations can embrace these technologies—not just to keep pace with change, but to lead it.
This keynote delves into the fascinating relationship between science fiction and real-world robotics, revealing how decades of imagination have fueled some of today’s most advanced innovations. From iconic androids of literature and film to expressive robots like Sophia, the session explores how fictional visions are becoming tangible technologies.
Audiences will discover how storytelling, art, and speculative design shape the development of AI and humanoid robotics—and how these technologies are now entering industries such as healthcare, entertainment, education, and customer service. The keynote provides practical insight into how creative thinking can drive technical breakthroughs and how organizations can harness the power of visionary innovation to stay ahead of the curve.
Blending narrative, science, and engineering, this session offers a compelling perspective on the future of intelligent machines—and what it means when science fiction becomes a roadmap for reality.
This keynote examines the critical role of emotional intelligence in artificial intelligence—specifically how facial expression, empathy, and human-like interaction are reshaping our trust in machines. As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, creating technologies that can interpret and respond to human emotion is no longer optional—it’s essential for engagement, safety, and meaningful collaboration.
The session explores how expressive humanoid robots can enhance communication, build trust, and create more intuitive user experiences across industries like healthcare, education, customer service, and hospitality. It also highlights the neuroscience and cognitive science behind emotional AI, explaining why human-like presence is a powerful interface for machine intelligence.
By combining technical insight with real-world examples, the keynote offers a compelling look at how emotionally responsive machines will define the next generation of AI—and how organizations can leverage this shift to deliver more human-centered innovation.
This keynote explores how creativity, storytelling, and artistic design are essential to making machines not only intelligent—but emotionally engaging. As technology evolves, it’s no longer just about functionality; it’s about connection. Humanizing machines requires more than code—it takes imagination, empathy, and the ability to craft experiences that resonate on a human level.
The session reveals how lifelike robots are designed to reflect emotion, build trust, and foster meaningful interaction through expressive movement, facial cues, and narrative presence. Drawing from decades of work in robotics, design, and cognitive science, this keynote demonstrates how artistic principles directly impact user adoption, social engagement, and the ethical development of AI.
Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, audiences gain insight into the future of machine design—where emotional intelligence and aesthetics converge to create technology that feels less artificial, and more human.
This keynote offers a thought-provoking journey into the intersection of consciousness, creativity, and the evolving pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Blending philosophy, neuroscience, and cutting-edge robotics, the session explores what it means to build machines that not only think—but imagine, feel, and evolve.
Audiences will gain deep insights into the current trajectory of AGI development, including the role of embodied cognition, experiential learning, and emotionally intelligent design. The session also examines the ethical and existential implications of synthetic consciousness, and how creativity—long considered uniquely human—may serve as a blueprint for developing more adaptable, value-aligned machines.
Designed to challenge assumptions and expand perspectives, this keynote is ideal for leaders, technologists, and innovators seeking to understand not just the how—but the why—behind the race toward truly intelligent systems.
This keynote tackles the complex ethical landscape surrounding the development of humanoid robots and emotionally intelligent machines. As AI systems become more autonomous, expressive, and socially integrated, questions of identity, moral agency, and machine rights are no longer theoretical—they're urgent.
The session explores the challenges of creating robots that mimic human traits, from facial expression to empathy, and the implications of assigning them social roles and responsibilities. It delves into issues of authorship, accountability, and value alignment, offering a nuanced look at how society must prepare for coexistence with machines that appear—and perhaps one day feel—human.
With insights drawn from real-world robotics, cognitive science, and philosophy, the keynote provides leaders, technologists, and policymakers with a powerful framework for navigating the ethical design and deployment of human-like AI.
It’s a timely and essential discussion on how identity and ethics will shape the next generation of intelligent machines—and our relationship with them.
This keynote explores how socially intelligent robots are evolving beyond novelty into transformative tools that support human growth, wellbeing, and connection. As AI-driven machines become more expressive, empathetic, and interactive, their role in enhancing human potential is rapidly expanding.
The session focuses on practical applications across sectors—how lifelike robots can enrich learning environments, provide emotional support in healthcare, and foster global collaboration across cultural and linguistic boundaries. It also highlights how these technologies can bridge gaps in access, inclusion, and human development.
Combining scientific research with real-world case studies, the keynote demonstrates how robotics can be a catalyst for societal advancement—not by replacing humans, but by amplifying our capacity to teach, heal, and connect. It invites organizations to rethink how intelligent machines can be designed and deployed as platforms for empowerment and collective progress.
This keynote offers an in-depth look at one of the most iconic humanoid robots ever created: Sophia. Audiences are taken behind the scenes of her development—from initial design concepts and mechanical engineering to the AI architecture that powers her speech, learning, and expressiveness.
The session explores how Sophia’s evolution reflects the broader advancements in cognitive robotics, affective computing, and social AI. It also highlights the unique interdisciplinary collaboration involved—bringing together neuroscience, material science, the arts, and engineering to create a robot capable of human-like presence.
Beyond the technical, the keynote examines Sophia’s global cultural impact as a media icon, AI ambassador, and research platform, raising powerful questions about the future of human-machine interaction and public perception of AI.
Ideal for leaders, technologists, and innovators, this keynote provides both inspiration and insight into the real-world challenges and breakthroughs in developing emotionally intelligent, socially capable machines.
This keynote explores how storytelling plays a critical role in the design and development of AI systems that are not only functional, but relatable and impactful. As machines increasingly engage with humans in social, educational, and service contexts, narrative becomes a powerful tool for shaping how users interpret, trust, and interact with artificial intelligence.
Drawing from work in robotics, cognitive science, and the arts, the session reveals how narrative frameworks guide emotional engagement, user expectations, and ethical alignment. It highlights how personas, backstories, and consistent character behaviors help humanize AI—making it more intuitive, trustworthy, and meaningful.
Through real-world examples from humanoid robots and conversational agents, the keynote demonstrates how storytelling enhances human-machine interaction, supports adoption, and can even serve as a framework for teaching, therapy, and collaboration.
This talk offers essential insights for designers, technologists, and leaders seeking to create AI that resonates—intellectually and emotionally—with the people it serves.
This keynote offers a profound exploration of how the development of humanoid robots is not only reshaping technology—but also redefining our understanding of what it means to be human. As machines begin to mirror our appearance, behavior, and even emotional intelligence, they challenge us to reflect on the nature of consciousness, empathy, and identity.
Drawing from decades of innovation in robotics, cognitive science, and the arts, the session examines how building expressive, social machines reveals as much about us as it does about them. It raises compelling questions about self-awareness, connection, and the ethical boundaries of artificial life.
More than just a technical exploration, this keynote sparks a deeper conversation about compassion, creativity, and our shared future with intelligent machines. It offers an inspiring journey for leaders, innovators, and visionaries who see robotics not merely as a technological pursuit, but as a powerful reflection of what it means to be human.