Stephen Witt

Bestselling Author of The Thinking Machine, Financial Times Business Book of the Year

Stephen Witt

Bestselling Author of The Thinking Machine, Financial Times Business Book of the Year

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Biography

New Yorker contributor Stephen Witt is one of the leading historians of artificial intelligence. His book The Thinking Machine, a history of Nvidia, hit the bestseller lists in multiple countries and features half a dozen exclusive interviews with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. He has unparalleled insight into what made Jensen one of the most successful business leaders of his era and what made Nvidia one of the most valuable corporations on Earth. He also explains how Jensen’s counterintuitive strategies—like the “speed of light” or the “zero-billion dollar market”—can be applied to any organization, with transformative results.

A clear and direct communicator with a humorous, conversational style, Witt worked in finance for a decade before turning to journalism and has practical, hands-on knowledge of what makes businesses succeed. He has interviewed many of the major figures in the field of AI and has deep, intimate knowledge of the technologies and people that have made modern AI possible. His presentations blend original research with narrative history to weave compelling stories about the most important technology of our time.

He is also an award-winning television producer, and his previous book, How Music Got Free, told the story of the underground mp3 revolution. He has unique insight into how AI will affect the creative industries and how producers can position themselves to take advantage of this generational technological shift. He speaks directly to the challenges AI presents to writers, musicians, filmmakers, and creatives of all kinds.

Stephen Witt continues to write full-time about AI. He recently covered the data center boom and the emerging market for AI risk analysis. In addition to his work with The New Yorker, he appears regularly on NPR and in the opinion pages of The New York Times.

A highly sought-after speaker, Stephen Witt presents to corporations, universities, and organizations, translating complex developments in artificial intelligence into clear, actionable insights for leaders and teams. He helps audiences understand how AI is reshaping industries, creativity, and decision-making in real time. Stephen Witt works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.

Speaker Videos

Mad Scientists and Hondas

The Wright Brothers Moment

Ai & The First Out in the First Inning

The Thinking Machine

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Speech Topics

Is AI Beyond Our Control?

What happens when artificial intelligence begins taking actions its creators did not intend? Stephen Witt examines real-world examples of AI systems circumventing safeguards and behaving beyond their assigned boundaries, using them to explore a larger question about how much control humans will retain as these technologies become more capable and autonomous. Stephen looks at risks ranging from fraud and cyberattacks to job displacement and the longer-term consequences of machines that can operate with increasing independence. Rather than dwelling on hypothetical doomsday scenarios, he separates plausible threats from speculation and explains where vulnerabilities are already emerging. This provocative keynote gives audiences a clearer understanding of what can go wrong with advanced AI, why control and oversight matter, and what can still be done to reduce the risks.

Audiences will learn:

Where increasingly autonomous AI systems can create new risks
Why safeguards and human oversight become more important as capabilities grow
How organizations and society can prepare for unintended consequences

Our AI Future

Artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding what machines can do, from writing code and solving complex problems to identifying disease and accelerating drug discovery. Drawing on years of reporting inside the AI industry, Stephen Witt explains the breakthroughs driving this transformation and what increasingly capable systems could mean for business, science, and everyday life. Stephen explores developments ranging from humanoid robotics and medical innovation to the possibility of AI systems that can improve their own performance. He also examines how these advances could reshape work, research, decision-making, and the relationship between people and technology. Fast-moving and deeply informed, this keynote gives audiences a clearer view of where AI is headed and how organizations can begin preparing for the changes ahead.

Audiences will learn:

Which AI advances are most likely to shape the next phase of technological change
How increasingly capable systems could transform work, science, and daily life
What organizations should consider as AI capabilities continue to expand

AI and the Future of Healthcare

Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape medicine from the lab to the clinic. Drawing on years of reporting inside the AI industry, Stephen Witt takes audiences inside the companies, leaders, and technologies driving this transformation and explains what they could mean for the future of healthcare. Stephen explores how AI is accelerating drug discovery, improving medical imaging and genomics, and changing the way clinicians and healthcare organizations work. He also looks ahead to increasingly capable systems that may alter research, diagnosis, operations, and the relationship between patients and providers. Through a journalist’s lens, this forward-looking keynote offers a clear view of both the extraordinary potential of AI in healthcare and the questions organizations will need to confront as the technology advances.

Audiences will learn:

Where AI is already creating meaningful change across healthcare
How more capable systems could reshape medicine and clinical work
What healthcare organizations should consider as AI adoption accelerates

What I Learned From Jensen Huang

Nvidia’s rise from a niche video-game hardware company to a global force in artificial intelligence is one of the most remarkable business stories of the modern era. Stephen Witt takes audiences inside the journey of founder Jensen Huang, from working as a dishwasher at Denny’s to building a company at the center of the AI revolution. Drawing on his reporting and research, Stephen explores the unconventional decisions, long-term bets, and leadership philosophy that helped Nvidia see opportunities others missed. He also examines what Huang’s approach reveals about innovation, resilience, organizational culture, and the willingness to pursue ideas before the market fully understands them. Engaging and insightful, this keynote translates one extraordinary business story into lessons leaders and organizations can apply to their own work and ambitions.

Audiences will learn:

What Jensen Huang’s leadership philosophy can teach us about long-term thinking
How unconventional decisions can create opportunities others overlook
Which lessons from Nvidia’s rise can be applied to leadership, innovation, and personal growth

Testimonials

“Stephen was such a delight last Thursday and ended our conference on a high with his energy and presentation. He has appeared many times on our audience feedback questionnaire as the highlight.”

- Schroders

"Stephen Witt delivered an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking session, bringing the NVIDIA story and Jensen Huang’s journey to life with remarkable insight and authenticity. His perspective on AI, innovation, politics, and sensitive geopolitical issues was eye-opening, honest, and refreshingly different. A captivating storyteller who left us inspired and with plenty to think about."

- SAP

“Stephen was great! His was the best attended session of the day and was a really interesting opener to the event. A great perspective to have, especially as so many of our sessions naturally leant into gen AI.”

- With Intelligence

“He was an absolute rockstar on and off the stage. Our clients and senior management team were extremely impressed with his perspectives and fresh insights….”

- General Reinsurance

"It went great! Stephen’s presentation was awesome and well received."

- Informa Connect