Anthony Atala
Founding Director, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine | Creator of the First 3D Bioprinter | Chair, ACS Board of Regents | 800+ Publications & 250+ Patents
Hiroshi Ishiguro
Distinguished Professor, University of Osaka | Father of Humanoid Androids | CEO, AVITA Inc. | Japan MOONSHOT R&D Project Manager
The scientist who builds humans from scratch — and asks why. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Distinguished Professor at Osaka University and creator of the Geminoid, ERICA, and Mindar androids, has spent three decades redefining the boundary between machine and person. Producer of the Expo 2025 "Future of Life" pavilion and CEO of avatar startup AVITA Inc., his talks are as philosophically disorienting as they are technically stunning.
Want to book Hiroshi Ishiguro as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Hiroshi Ishiguro biography
Hiroshi Ishiguro is the world’s foremost authority on humanoid androids — a Distinguished Professor at the University of Osaka, Visiting Director of the ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories, and one of the most provocative scientific minds working at the boundary of robotics, artificial intelligence, and human identity. Named one of the top 100 living geniuses in the world by the Synectics Survey of Contemporary Genius, Ishiguro has spent three decades building robots that do not merely perform tasks but force us to question what it means to be human.
Robotics speaker Hiroshi Ishiguro is best known for a lineage of androids that reads like a catalogue of the uncanny: Robovie, Repliee, Geminoid, Telenoid, Elfoid, CommU, ERICA, and Ibuki — each pushing further into the territory where silicon and silicone meet consciousness and presence. His most iconic creation, Geminoid HI, is a robotic duplicate of Ishiguro himself, capable of blinking, breathing, and fidgeting with unnerving human fidelity. The latest iteration, Geminoid HI-6, integrates a large language model, enabling it to engage in open-ended dialogue — a reflection of how rapidly Ishiguro’s research has absorbed the generative AI revolution. His robots have appeared in over 500 media programmes on the Discovery Channel, NHK, BBC, and beyond, and have been deployed in settings ranging from university classrooms to Buddhist temple rituals, where the android preacher Mindar leads guided meditations at Kyoto’s Kōdai-ji temple.
Beyond the laboratory, Ishiguro operates at the highest levels of Japan’s technology ecosystem. He serves as CEO of AVITA Inc., a Tokyo-based startup commercializing avatar and cybernetic presence technology, and as Project Manager of Japan’s MOONSHOT R&D Programme — a government-funded initiative targeting transformative science goals including the realization of avatar-symbiotic society by 2050. He has published more than 300 articles in major scientific journals and at international symposia, received honorary doctorates from Aarhus University in Denmark, and has been recognised with the Tateisi Prize, the Osaka Culture Prize, and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, among others.
Expo 2025 Osaka and the Future of Life
Ishiguro served as Thematic Project Producer of the “Future of Life” Signature Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka — Japan’s most prominent showcase of its vision for human-technology coexistence. The pavilion, themed “Amplification of Lives,” featured approximately 20 androids and 30 additional robots across three zones tracing human life from the present through 50 years ahead to a thousand years into the future. The project placed Ishiguro at the center of Japan’s national conversation about what it means to design tomorrow. He was also invited as a panellist at the Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2025, participating alongside Nobel laureates in a discussion on the long-term future of intelligent machines.
As a speaker, Hiroshi Ishiguro brings to the stage something no presentation deck can replicate: the physical presence of his android double, the authority of a scientist who has defined his field, and a philosophical depth that transforms a robotics keynote into an encounter with the most fundamental questions about identity, consciousness, and what lies ahead for our species. Organizations booking Ishiguro don’t just get a talk — they get an experience their audiences will not forget.
Hiroshi Ishiguro Speaking Videos
The Most Humanlike Robot & Her Creator Hiroshi Ishiguro
Hiroshi Ishiguro - Human, android, and media
Hiroshi Ishiguro Keynote Topics
The central question driving Hiroshi Ishiguro's entire career is deceptively simple: what makes a presence feel human? In this keynote, he traces the evolution of his android creations — from early prototypes to Geminoid HI-6, now powered by a large language model — and what each iteration has revealed about perception, empathy, consciousness, and identity. Rather than a technical showcase, this is a philosophical journey using robots as mirrors: the closer they come to human, the more precisely they reveal what human actually means. A keynote that changes how audiences think about intelligence, presence, and themselves.
As CEO of AVITA Inc. and Project Manager of Japan's MOONSHOT R&D Programme, Ishiguro is actively building the infrastructure for a world where physical presence is no longer a constraint. In this forward-looking keynote, he explores the coming era of avatar-symbiotic society — where people work, care for others, and connect through robotic and digital extensions of themselves — and what this means for organizations across healthcare, retail, education, and professional services. Equal parts strategic briefing and visionary provocation, this talk is essential for any leadership team thinking seriously about the future of work.
A deep-dive into the science, engineering, and psychology behind humanoid robot development, delivered by the researcher who has defined the field. Ishiguro covers the technical architecture of lifelike androids, the cognitive science of the uncanny valley, what decades of human-robot interaction research have revealed about social acceptance, and where the next generation of androids — integrating generative AI with physical embodiment — will take us. Designed for technically curious audiences in technology, engineering, healthcare, and research, this keynote offers unparalleled access to the frontiers of a field that will reshape every sector.
As producer of the "Future of Life" Signature Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka — featuring 20 androids and 30 robots across three zones spanning the present to a thousand years ahead — Ishiguro had a rare mandate: to design humanity's future, not just imagine it. In this keynote, he shares the creative, scientific, and philosophical process behind the pavilion, the questions it raised for millions of visitors, and what he believes organizations and societies must do now to shape a future that amplifies rather than diminishes human life. A keynote for leadership audiences invested in long-term strategy, innovation culture, and the human dimensions of technological change.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Hiroshi Ishiguro
Why Hiroshi Ishiguro?
Booking Hiroshi Ishiguro for your event is a decision that delivers on every level — scientific credibility, visual spectacle, and genuine philosophical depth. As the world's leading android scientist, Distinguished Professor at Osaka University, and creator of over a dozen landmark humanoid robots, Ishiguro commands the full attention of any senior audience. His keynotes are unlike any other: he often appears alongside his android double Geminoid, creating a moment that is simultaneously unsettling, awe-inspiring, and deeply thought-provoking. Whether your event focuses on AI, robotics, the future of work, innovation, or human potential, Ishiguro offers a perspective that sits at the absolute frontier. Ranked among the top 100 living geniuses and invited as a panellist at the Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2025, his credentials speak for themselves. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability for your next event.
What robots has Hiroshi Ishiguro created?
Over three decades, Hiroshi Ishiguro has developed a landmark series of humanoid robots and androids at Osaka University and the ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories. His most significant creations include Robovie, an early interactive social robot; Repliee Q1Expo, a lifelike gynoid unveiled in 2005; Geminoid HI, a robotic replica of Ishiguro himself — now in its sixth iteration (Geminoid HI-6) and equipped with a large language model for open-ended dialogue; Telenoid, a minimalist teleoperated robot designed to convey human presence; Elfoid, a pocket-sized communication robot; ERICA, an autonomous conversational android; Ibuki, a child-like mobile android; and Mindar, a Buddhist android preacher installed at Kyoto's Kōdai-ji temple. Each creation has advanced his central research question: what makes a presence feel human?
What is the MOONSHOT R&D Project that Hiroshi Ishiguro manages?
Japan's MOONSHOT R&D Programme is a government-funded initiative led by the Cabinet Office targeting transformative, long-horizon scientific breakthroughs. Ishiguro serves as Project Manager of a MOONSHOT goal centred on realizing an avatar-symbiotic society — a future in which people can extend their physical and cognitive presence through robotic and digital avatars, overcoming limitations of distance, disability, and age. The research directly informs his work at AVITA Inc., the startup he leads as CEO to commercialize avatar technology for real-world service and social applications.
What topics does robotics speaker Hiroshi Ishiguro cover?
Hiroshi Ishiguro speaks on humanoid robotics and android science, the future of human-robot and human-avatar interaction, AI and machine consciousness, the philosophical implications of creating human-like machines, cybernetic avatars and the future of presence and work, and the role of robotics in healthcare, education, and social connection. His talks typically feature live demonstrations with or insights drawn from his android creations, making them among the most visually and intellectually memorable keynote experiences available. Reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau to discuss how Hiroshi Ishiguro's keynote can be tailored to your event's theme and audience.
How to book Hiroshi Ishiguro as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Hiroshi Ishiguro as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Hiroshi Ishiguro's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Hiroshi Ishiguro or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Hiroshi Ishiguro speaking fee?
Hiroshi Ishiguro speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Hiroshi Ishiguro to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Hiroshi Ishiguro.
How can I contact Hiroshi Ishiguro?
We only work with Hiroshi Ishiguro on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Hiroshi Ishiguro and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Hiroshi Ishiguro speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Hiroshi Ishiguro for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Hiroshi Ishiguro for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Hiroshi Ishiguro is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Hiroshi Ishiguro for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
