Sebastian Thrun is a highly sought-after speaker due to his profound influence and pioneering work in artificial intelligence, robotics, and education, highlighted by his leadership at Google X and co-founding of Waymo and Udacity. As an AI pioneer and “godfather” of self-driving technology, he has consistently led transformative projects that have reshaped industries. His ability to distill complex technological concepts into inspiring visions makes him an exceptionally engaging and impactful speaker for any audience.
Sebastian Thrun
AI Visionary, Inventor of the Self-Driving Car, Founder of Google X, Waymo, Udacity, & Kitty Hawk, Stanford Adjunct Professor, Former Vice President at Google
Sebastian Thrun Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type
Please Inquire
Languages Spoken
English
Travels From
USA
Sebastian Thrun Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type
Please Inquire
Languages Spoken
English
Travels From
USA
About Keynote Speaker Sebastian Thrun
Sebastian Thrun is one of the ‘fathers’ of self-driving technology and an AI pioneer. His impact spans academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. As a Stanford professor, he spearheaded significant AI research before joining Google in 2007 as Vice-President and Fellow. At Google, Thrun founded Google[x], an innovative hub responsible for disruptive products like self-driving cars, marking the onset of an autonomous vehicle revolution.
Thrun’s innovative streak led to the creation of Stanley and Junior, foundational vehicles for Google’s autonomous car project. Stanley, a robotic vehicle, triumphed at the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge and earned a spot at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.
Despite leaving full tenure, Thrun maintains a research professorship at Stanford, focusing on leveraging AI to enhance everyday life. In 2012, he co-founded Udacity, a pioneering educational platform where he now serves as Chairman. Udacity, renowned for its ‘nanodegree’ offerings, provides cutting- edge tech education to individuals irrespective of their backgrounds, promoting the democratization of education.
Thrun further expanded his entrepreneurial influence by co-founding Kitty Hawk, an electric ultralight aircraft startup, alongside Larry Page, Google’s long-time CEO and co-founder. As CEO until 2022, he steered Kitty Hawk’s vision of revolutionizing personal transportation.
Currently, Thrun is also the co-founder and Chairman of the board of Cresta, an innovative AI startup globally acclaimed. Cresta’s AI-enabled software offers real-time insights during conversations, empowering customer service agents and salespeople with the knowledge to resolve issues and close deals effectively. He is also actively involved in several stealth AI startups.
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, a ‘fighter for internet freedom’ by The Guardian, and one of the youngest inductees into the US National Academy of Engineering, Thrun’s enduring influence continues to shape the intersection of AI, education, and transportation.
As a popular speaker, Sebastian Thrun is sought-after for his deep knowledge and unparalleled experience at the cutting edge of AI, robotics, and education.