Speaking

Superconvergence: How the AI, Genetics, and Biotechnology Revolutions Will Transform our Lives, Work, and World

The rapid growth of new AI systems like ChatGPT and Google Gemini has helped most people realize significant change is on the horizon. But while most of us still think of these AI capabilities as improved internet search tools, the implications are far more profound. Just like the agricultural, industrial, and computer revolutions before it, the AI revolution will transform almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives. Along with our new capabilities in genetics and biotechnology, it will change how we live and work, our economies, our healthcare, the foods we eat, and our interactions with the world around us. In this visionary and far-reaching but also highly practical talk, leading futurist Jamie Metzl explores the big-picture implications of this transformative moment in our history — when we humans are rapidly increasing our abilities to engineer intelligence and re-engineer biology — and how individuals, organizations, and societies can best ride the wave of this change rather than be subsumed by it.

From Precision to Predictive: Technology, innovation, and the Exciting Future of Healthcare

The transition from today’s system of generalized medicine based on population averages to the new model of precision healthcare based on each person’s individual biology is already well underway. But the use of new generative AI systems and the precision medicine tools of genome sequencing, big data analytics, and targeted gene therapies to treat cancer and other diseases are paving the way for a further transition to more predictive and preventive healthcare. In this talk, Jamie Metzl elucidates how the tools and capabilities of the intersecting artificial intelligence, genetics, and biotechnology revolutions are transforming healthcare and lays out key principles for how health industry professionals, the business community, governments, and individuals can prepare for a revolution that is coming far sooner than most people recognize.

The Biology Revolution Will Change Everything. Are You Ready?

Faster than most people understand or appreciate, our growing, superhuman capabilities to restructure the building blocks of life will fundamentally alter the way we prevent and treat disease, generate energy, grow food, store data, create industrial materials, and much more. Just like the information technology revolution started small and then “ate the world,” the biology revolution is about to change much of everything. Most businesses and other organizations are not ready. In this mind-expanding talk, visionary futurist Jamie Metzl describes how the biotechnology revolution will play out over the coming years and what we can all do on a personal, professional, and global level to prepare and thrive.

Cracking the Code of Pandemic Origins

Jamie Metzl has been called “the original COVID-19 whistleblower” for his pioneering work probing the origins of the pandemic, which has been covered by 60 Minutes and in almost every major newspaper across the globe. Understanding how the pandemic began has massive implications for preventing the next one, but efforts to do just that have been hampered at every turn. In this pioneering talk, Jamie opens up about the epic and ongoing struggle for a full investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and what it will take to build a safer future for all.

Beyond the Blue Zones: What the Revolutionary Science of Human Life Extension Means for You

Most everybody knows we should exercise, eat well, build meaningful communities, and reduce stress to live healthy longer. But the revolutionary new science of human life extension is creating enticing new possibilities for using technology to extend our lives far beyond what nature intended. While the quest for immortality has been the stuff of fairy tales, the new science of life extension will soon be pushing the limits of aging and unlocking human potential in ways our ancestors never could have imagined. Technology futurist Jamie Metzl explores the latest breakthroughs in the science of human life extension that promise to gain is more of life‘s most precious commodity: time. Jamie explains what individuals, companies, and governments must do now to prepare for this revolutionary future that will fundamentally reorganize our societies and global economics.

Think Like a Sci-Fi Writer: How to unlock your and your organization’s hidden potential in an era of revolutionary change

The future is coming at us faster than ever before. As the pace of technological change in fields like artificial intelligence, genomics, and robotics increases exponentially, the sands of national and international politics are shifting under our feet more than at any time since the end of WWII. But while this moment of radical change creates great peril for organizations that stick too rigidly to traditional ways of thinking and operating, it provides unparalleled opportunities for those who challenge themselves to think differently, creatively imagine future scenarios, and set out on a journey to succeed in a radically new environment. Organizations must, in other words, begin thinking like science fiction writers. In this wide-ranging and highly focused talk, Jamie clearly explains the converging mega-trends reshaping our world, describes how science fiction writers draw on evidence from the present to build a world of tomorrow, and outlines a specific road map for how organizations can use the powerful tool of thinking more like science fiction writers to better prepare for the future and unlock hidden organizational potential.

“We invited Jamie to give a keynote address to 500 doctors at a major medical convention. His brilliant talk simply blew people’s minds and made them think differently about where medicine is heading and what that means for all of us. With tremendous thoughtfulness, energy, creativity, and skill, Jamie helped participants imagine how they might ride the wave of exponential change toward greater success rather than be crushed by it. The positive response was overwhelming. Jamie is a superstar.”
—Joshua Abram, Co-Founder and CEO, TMRW Life Sciences

“Jamie was the closing keynote at our global CEO conference. He had an uncanny way tying together all of the themes from the previous sessions, into a masterful and thought provoking closing. No canned script, no death by PowerPoint, but an engaging, entertaining and intelligent talk worthy of our audience. Jamie’s keynote had the energy and enthusiasm of a rock star, and left our audience wanting more. I would most certainly book Jamie again for another YPO event!”
—Stephen Forte, President, Silicon Valley YPO

“San Jose State thinks a great deal these days about how to approach healthcare studies with our students, how that interacts with technology and the humanities, and the complexity of programs we need to create that will allow us to think differently about our place in an ever changing world, as well as how we can have a positive impact. At our event, Jamie was exceptionally engaged with the students, and in both sessions before the lecture, everyone one came up with him afterwards to talk further with him. He offered thoughtful insights into these issues in an engaging, entertaining way that I know is going to generate a great deal of discussion and debate among our students and staff. He reminded us that the future is already here and we should engage with it actively and in the spirit of our values.”
—Dr. Mary A. Papazian, President, San Jose State University

“As part of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Director’s Distinguished Lecturer Series, Jamie Metzl led several hundred scientists and engineers into the mind-twisting reality where advances in genomics are changing the way we think about the future of living systems – including homo sapiens.  Jamie combined technical understanding and his unique skills of communication to take the audience into an uncertain future where deliberate engineering of living systems will enable remarkable benefit but also leads to deep ethical challenges for society.  As Jamie concludes, every individual in society needs to become part of this conversation.”
—David Rakestraw, Lawrence Livermore National Lab 

“Provocative, challenging, wonderful, exciting and a bit scary are just a sampling of the reactions from the nearly 1,500 attendees at Jamie Metzl’s talks we hosted in advance of the debut of his book Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity. Jamie’s fast pace and vast knowledge kept audiences of all ages and persuasions locked on.”
—John Carney, CEO, Center for Practical Bioethics

“Jamie’s fabulous presentation on genetic engineering — past, present and future — was at once thought provoking, inspiring, frightening and enlightening. It was simply the best presentation I ever have heard in all my 71 years. I look forward to the publication of Hacking Darwin and can’t wait to get my hands on it.”
—David Parker, Board Member, Brown University Hillel

“Jamie’s talk on ‘Donald Trump and the Changing Geopolitics of Asia’ was an absolute tour de force that blew away our members. Jamie took what could have been a narrowly focused topic and put it in a far broader historical and political context that helped the audience to see the big picture of U.S.-China relations and the dynamics shaping it. His thought-provoking and expansive talk generated a fascinating discussion and left us seeing the world from an entirely different—and deeply appreciated—perspective.”
— Courtney Doggart, President, Network 20/20

“IVY hosts dozens of incredible lectures led by leading minds around the country each year, but I’ve never seen our members as engaged with the speaker and the subject matter as they were with Dr. Metzl. He captivated the room with the intricacies of the future of science and humanity. After the lecture members lingered for more than two hours discussing the implications of the future of genetic engineering and debating what, if anything, should be done about it.”
— IVY Connect

“Jamie is a fantastic authority and resource on all things related to China. I hired Jamie as a panelist and keynote speaker in 2016 after hearing Jamie speak at an Atlantic Council event. He was extremely knowledgeable, flexible and a pleasure to work with on our event programming. I was particularly impressed by Jamie’s presence and command of the topics and his ability to engage with the audience in a meaningful way. Throughout our preparation, Jamie was always accessible and provided constructive ways to improve our program. Jamie is at the top of my list for my speaking engagement needs.”
— HSBC

“Jamie Metzl spoke to a captivated audience about a fascinating and complicated subject. Bio-engineering and its impact upon the future of mankind was the topic Dr. Metzl aptly articulated in an enthralling yet relatable style. From the start, he built a genuine rapport with the audience as he communicated so that each person understood as clearly as possible the subject matter. Jamie’s presentation was amazingly fluid and perfectly paced as he spoke effortlessly without notes or prompts. ‘Jamie is the best speaker we’ve ever had.’ ‘This event was a home run because of Jamie Metzl!’ ‘Jamie is engaging and smoothly breaks it down.’ These are just a few samples of the positive comments received from the audience after the presentation. Our community is excited about Jamie’s return for an encore!”
— Kansas City Jewish Federation

“Jamie spoke to the senior most lay leadership of our non-partisan, nonprofit organization on U.S. foreign policy and, particularly, as it relates to the Asia Pacific region—a topic that is difficult to address, both because it is inherently complex and politically sensitive. Jamie overcame these challenges and adeptly and tactfully addressed the issues, giving historical context and his own perspective in a clear and effective manner. His breadth of knowledge is impressive. Jamie is very personable, and his intelligence, confidence and personal charm were extremely well received. Many people commented after his presentation and the ensuing discussion that he is one of the best speakers they have heard in a very long while—and this is a group that is accustomed to hearing many high-level speakers. We look forward to the next opportunity to host Jamie as a speaker again.”
—Shira Loewenberg, Director, AJC Asia Pacific Institute (API)