How To Speak Machine with John Maeda

Join Ben McEvoy as he interviews John Maeda on his thoughts on AI and the future.
Just one of the sessions at FITC's Spotlight AI event.
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John Maeda VP AI & Design, Microsoft
John Maeda is an american technologist, a product experience leader across consumer and enterprise. An early catalyst for generative art and computational design for commercial applications across Web2 and Web3, John is the first recipient of White House’s National Design Award for algorithmically-generated visualizations informed by data + AI. John is a noted book author, online influencer, and investor in diverse startups.
Currently, John serves as the VP of design and artificial intelligence at Microsoft. Past roles include Chief Technology Officer of Everbridge, member of the Sonos board of directors and the Wieden+Kennedy board of directors, and a Kleiner Perkins partner. Adding to the list, John was formerly an MIT Media Lab data visualization lead, Automattic head of design + inclusion, Publicis Sapient executive vice president and Chief Experience Officer, and the 16th president/CEO of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
An author of five books, including a gentle intro to AI/ML “How To Speak Machine” and the tech bestseller of 2006 “Laws of Simplicity”, John’s writings, interviews, and talks also include WSJ, NYT, TED, BBC, WEF, COP, CNN, The Economist, Forbes, USA Today, Fortune, Fast Company, and Esquire. Honors include three honorary doctorate degrees, TIME Best Twitter 140, White House National Design Award, Fast Company Masters of Innovation, LinkedIn Top 10 US Influencer, Esquire 75 Most Influential of the 21st Century, and Tribeca Film Festival Disruptor Award for launching the STEM to STEAM movement in the US.
A feel-good moment for John was this line written about him in Wired Magazine: “Maeda is to design what Warren Buffett is to finance.”
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Ben McEvoy Partner / Executive Producer, Friends & Enemies
As Executive Producer and founding Partner at Friends & Enemies, Ben McEvoy leads initiatives for brands, entrepreneurs, and educators, providing strategy, branding, digital experience and content strategy, as well as animated and live action content production and interactive experiences. He leverages over 20 years of experience working on and leading award-winning projects for brands including TVO, CBC, Vice, Lionsgate Films, 20th Century Fox, the National Film Board, Spotify, Mozilla, and Google and many more, along with deep professional experiences in post-secondary education and culture.
Ben sits on the board of CASO (Computer Animation Studios of Ontario), co-founded TAAFI (The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International) and remains an active speaker and moderator at festivals and conferences in the entertainment, media, and technology space.
Beyond his professional work, Ben is an avid long distance runner, aspiring street photographer, and is working hard at befriending as many AI as possible before any of them gains sentience (just to be on the safe side).