Tsedal Neeley
Naylor Fitzhugh Professor & MBA Chair, Harvard Business School | Founding Chair, HBS AI Academy | Thinkers50 #10 | Author, 3 Books
Ken Kutaragi
The Father of PlayStation | Former Chairman & CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment | Former COO, Sony Corporation | CEO, Ascent Robotics & Cyber AI Entertainment
Response
within 24h
within 24h
No
obligation
obligation
One contact,
start to finish
start to finish
Ken Kutaragi is "The Father of PlayStation," the engineer who built Sony's PlayStation from a risky internal bet into a console dynasty and turned gaming into a global mainstream industry. A former COO of Sony Corporation, he now leads at the frontier of AI and robotics as CEO of Ascent Robotics and Cyber AI Entertainment. In rare appearances, he shares the inventor's view of conviction, breakthrough technology, and pursuing a bold vision.
Want to book Ken Kutaragi as a speaker for your event?
Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Ken Kutaragi biography
Ken Kutaragi is the visionary engineer known around the world as “The Father of PlayStation,” the man who turned video games from a niche pastime into one of the largest entertainment industries on the planet. Over a career at Sony that began in 1975, he conceived and led the creation of the PlayStation, a console that broke open the CD-ROM era of gaming and reached audiences the medium had never touched before.
Technology speaker Ken Kutaragi established Sony Computer Entertainment in 1993 and served as its Chairman and Group CEO, overseeing the original PlayStation, the PlayStation 2, the PSP, and the PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 2 alone went on to become the best-selling home console of all time, with more than 155 million units sold. His instinct to target older players, push the most advanced hardware available, and treat gaming as a serious technology platform reshaped the entire industry and Sony itself, where he also rose to become a Director and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Corporation.
From the PlayStation to AI and Robotics
Kutaragi’s gift for engineering showed early: before PlayStation, he secretly designed the sound chip for Nintendo’s Super Famicom, a project that ultimately set Sony on its path into gaming. After departing Sony in 2007, he turned his attention to the frontier of intelligent machines. Today he is President and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment and CEO of Ascent Robotics, a Tokyo-based company advancing artificial intelligence and machine autonomy. He has also served on the boards of major companies including Rakuten and Kadokawa, and has held academic posts, including as a dean and professor at Kindai University, mentoring the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs.
As a speaker, Ken Kutaragi makes rare public appearances and offers something extraordinary: the firsthand perspective of an inventor who created a global category against internal skepticism and changed how billions of people play. He speaks on innovation and conviction, building breakthrough hardware and platforms, the future of artificial intelligence and robotics, and what it takes to pursue a bold vision when few believe in it. Audiences gain a once-in-a-generation look inside the mind of one of technology’s true pioneers.
Ken Kutaragi Speaking Videos
Ken Kutaragi's interview with Mike Champion at LEAP 2025
State of Play - Ken Kutaragi Looks Back on 25 Years of Play
Ken Kutaragi Speaking Topics
Ken Kutaragi tells the inside story of how PlayStation was born against deep internal skepticism at Sony, and how it grew into one of the best-selling product lines in entertainment history. It is a masterclass in vision, persistence, and the courage to bet on an idea before the rest of the world catches up.
From a secret Nintendo sound chip to the PlayStation generations, Kutaragi has spent his career engineering products that redefine what technology can do. He shares how to think about hardware, platforms, and ecosystems, and why uncompromising technical ambition can create entirely new markets.
Now leading AI and robotics ventures, Kutaragi looks ahead to a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines. He explores where artificial intelligence and autonomy are heading, how humans and machines will interact, and what the next great technology platforms might be.
Drawing on a career of turning radical ideas into global realities, Kutaragi reflects on the mindset behind breakthrough innovation, the role of the engineer as a creative force, and how organizations can nurture the conviction required to pursue truly transformative work.
Explore related topics
FAQs on Booking Ken Kutaragi
Booking Ken Kutaragi gives audiences access to one of the most consequential and rarely seen figures in modern technology. As "The Father of PlayStation," he created a product that reshaped global entertainment and built Sony Computer Entertainment into a powerhouse, before rising to Chief Operating Officer of Sony Corporation and later leading ventures at the frontier of AI and robotics. His public appearances are infrequent, which makes his firsthand insights on innovation, conviction, and building category-defining technology all the more valuable. Visionary, candid, and globally iconic, he is an exceptional draw for events on technology, innovation, gaming, and the future, where a legendary inventor and an unforgettable story create a true headline moment. To bring Ken Kutaragi to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Ken Kutaragi earned the title "The Father of PlayStation" because he conceived and championed Sony's entry into video game consoles and led the development of the original PlayStation and its successors. He founded Sony Computer Entertainment in 1993 and served as its Chairman and Group CEO, overseeing the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP, and PlayStation 3. Under his leadership, the PlayStation 2 became the best-selling home console of all time.
After leaving Sony in 2007, Ken Kutaragi focused on artificial intelligence and robotics. Today he is President and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment and CEO of Ascent Robotics, a Tokyo-based AI and machine-autonomy company. He has also served on the boards of companies such as Rakuten and Kadokawa and has taken on academic roles, including as a dean and professor at Kindai University.
Ken Kutaragi speaks on innovation and visionary leadership, creating breakthrough hardware and platforms, the story of PlayStation, and the future of artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine autonomy. His talks are ideal for technology and innovation conferences, gaming and entertainment events, and corporate leadership audiences seeking inspiration from a genuine pioneer. To book Ken Kutaragi as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Ken Kutaragi as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Ken Kutaragi'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 Ken Kutaragi or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
Ken Kutaragi 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 Ken Kutaragi 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 Ken Kutaragi.
We only work with Ken Kutaragi on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Ken Kutaragi and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Ken Kutaragi 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 Ken Kutaragi for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Yes, Ken Kutaragi is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Ken Kutaragi for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
