Patrick Schwerdtfeger is a business futurist specializing in technology trends including artificial intelligence, digital marketing, virtual influencers, and deep fake video technologies. He’s the author of “Anarchy, Inc.: Profiting in a Decentralized World with Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain” (2018, Authority Publishing) and has lectured at numerous academic institutions including Stanford and Purdue Universities. Virtual rock stars like Japan’s Hatsune Miku and Canada’s Maya Kodes, and virtual influencers like Miquela Sousa (or “Lil Miquela”) and Shudu Gram are popping up everywhere, and it’s inevitable that these virtual characters will soon enter the keynote speaking business as well. Xinhua, a Chinese news outlet, introduced a virtual news anchor in 2019, and robotic sex dolls are turning up in brothels around the world. In the case of Matsune Miku, most of her songs were written and uploaded by her fans, even paying royalties for the best songs and those played at live concerts. Patrick has studied these trends for many years. Not only can he dissect the trend for corporate audiences, but he can appear at your conference as a hologram, filmed in real time at studios in Los Angeles, California.
Past speaking clients include:
Recent speaking destinations include:
Conference Keynote Speech by a Virtual Speaker
Patrick was considered as the virtual keynote speaker for a conference in China. The organizers wanted him to deliver his keynote speech at a studio in Los Angeles (Patrick lives in Newport Beach) and his image would appear as a hologram on the stage of the conference in China. Although that particular opportunity didn’t materialize, it began Patrick’s fascination with our increasingly virtual world and the role that virtual characters are playing in our lives. It’s inevitable that virtual speakers will become increasingly common (and increasingly requested) in the years to come, particularly as the technology evolves. The two videos below cover some of the virtual influencers already in the public eye. Contact Patrick if you’re looking for a virtual keynote speaker for your upcoming conference.
The Future of Virtual Influencers
The beauty of virtual influencers is that they never do anything wrong. Or, more precisely, they never do anything unintended. Their creators may decide to add some drama to their characters with strategic missteps or controversial statements, but they can be fully controlled. There is no risk of unplanned firestorms. And as the technology advances, the possibilities of virtual characters explodes. They can have more emotion, more detail, more capabilities, more creativity, and more personality. We expect that the number of virtual influencers will grow exponentially over the next 10 years. That creates both challenges and opportunities for progressive companies. For starters, corporations should consider developing their own virtual influencer while the trend is still in its infancy. Patrick explains the business logic, strategic opportunity, and the pros and cons for your attendees.
Hologram Keynote Speech
If you’re considering a hologram keynote speaker, contact us to discuss your vision for the session. You probably have already heard of Sophia, the robotic keynote speaker built by Hanson Robotics. There are many different options to convey a forward-thinking progressive approach within your event. If you actually want a hologram of a live speaker, you will need some hardware at your event. That hardware can generally be leased from the studio. In Los Angeles, hologram studios include 8i, ARHT Media, and Hologram USA. Patrick lives in Southern California and can work with you to develop the session efficiently and economically.
Patrick Schwerdtfeger is a keynote speaker who has spoken at business conferences in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
