David Weinberger anticipates tomorrow's consequences from today's technological breakthroughs. In his long-time role as Fellow, Senior Researcher, and Advisory Board member at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, David is a visionary for understanding how tech trends shape our world, our businesses, and how we think.
Originally trained in philosophy, David questions the ethics of artificial intelligence and considers how humans and AI coexist. He acknowledges the life-changing positives of AI, as long as we recognize and address the parallel risks. Across five books and countless posts, articles, and studies, David has explored the fundamental changes the Internet and machine learning have had on knowledge, communication, creativity, and what we believe makes us special as humans.
In his upcoming book, The Rise of Particulars, David explores an important question: How will AI’s focus on data enable us to recognize patterns that humans typically overlook? Set for release in September 2026, David's clear-eyed analysis and engaging storytelling highlight the contrast between human tendency toward generalizations and AI's emphasis on discreet details. The Rise of Particulars outlines how AI will expand our understanding of ourselves and encourages us to see the world in new ways.
His award-winning book, Everyday Chaos: Technology, Complexity, and How We're Thriving in a New World of Possibility, offers strategies for navigating a life with too many tools, too much technology, and information.
David's iconic book, The Cluetrain Manifesto, precisely predicted the Internet's disruption to work and business. Long before Facebook and the explosion of social media, David predicted a model of web-based community spaces.
David's reach continues through affiliations with leading centers for research excellence, including Harvard, MIT, and many top tech companies. His ideas have been showcased in the New York Times, Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, Scientific American, The Economist, The Atlantic, Wired, NPR, and many more. As a Franklin Fellow at the US State Department, he worked to advance digital applications in diplomatic matters. He is the recipient of multiple writing awards as well as the Harvard Shorenstein Journalism Fellowship.
With his trademark wit and easy humor, David delivers dynamic and entertaining presentations with hands-on advice for navigating technology. His fresh perspectives on breakthrough discoveries are drawn from nearly every sector, from industry giants to innovative startups. By concisely communicating complex concepts, David provides audiences with a clearer vision of our likely future.
The Rise of Particulars: The Unseen Influence of Artificial Intelligence. Until now, our interpretation of data has been burdened by the limitations of human perspective. Conversely, AI draws predictions and conclusions from data that are imperceptible to human logic. In other words, we humans make broad generalizations from topical information, while AI generates insights from the patterns buried deep within data.
Drawing from his upcoming book, The Rise of Particulars From Morality to Reality: How AI Is Transforming Our Fundamental Ideas and Experience, David Weinberger brings to the stage the broader (and particular) nuts and bolts of machine learning. With his signature blend of clear analysis, engaging storytelling, and infectious wit, David presents the surprising real-world revelations and predictions that AI has made through scouring vast numbers and data points, without generalizing or rationalizing as humans do. He also grapples with the disquieting inexplicability of how large language models operate, as well as how and why we will begin to preferentially value the stories embedded in details, data, and particulars that have been historically overlooked.
An Ethical Look at AI: Balancing Responsibility & Innovation. “We don't know how it works” is a common explanation for many of the impressive feats of Artificial Intelligence. But this seemingly innocuous phrase reveals two important truths about this technology: It is more complex than any other technology that's come before, and it may be harboring hidden biases and intentions. AI is only as ethical as the programmers who develop it, which means that large language models will have implicit biases encoded in their very makeup.
In this one-of-a-kind workshop, David Weinberger walks audiences through a series of vivid hypothetical scenarios that arise from the implementation of AI systems that we don't fully understand—and cannot predict. He challenges audiences to consider how these issues impact businesses, governments, and individuality, and he posits how AI will influence our concept of what is fair and what is ethical.
My copy is filled with notes on the margins of every page. This is what books are for—a mind-blowing, game-changing, fun-to-read race into the future. Wow.
If you want to better understand the possibilities that machine learning and other forms of AI are creating—and harness the power of these breakthroughs—read this lively and illuminating book!
David's dual keynotes for KMWorld and Taxonomy Boot Camp 2020 introduced new and forward-looking ways of understanding the changes, challenges, and opportunities presented by AI and the Net—big ideas and solid practical suggestions, delivered with his usual clarity and wit. His energy and fun comments during our interactive discussion at our virtual event definitely translated positively to our audience!
Keywords: internet, AI, marketing, machine learning, innovation, technology, future trends, Web, big data